Traveling With Pets in the Car Safely

Traveling with a pet is rewarding but changes the rules of the car, and the problem is that an unrestrained animal is both a distraction and, in a sudden stop, a projectile that endangers everyone in the vehicle. Keeping a pet safe and calm on a long drive takes a little preparation, and it is the difference between a pleasant companion and a source of stress for every mile.The first rule is restraint, because a pet loose in the car can interfere with the pedals, block the view, and fly forward in a crash, and the solution is a crash-tested harness clipped to the seatbelt, or a secured carrier, with the animal in the back seat rather than the front where the airbag poses its own risk. This is not a preference, it is a safety measure, and it also keeps the pet from becoming a panicked projectile in an emergency.The comfort and routine matter for the pet’s stress, which in turn matters for the driver’s, because a distressed animal makes noise and distraction that no one needs. Bring familiar bedding and a favorite toy, keep the temperature comfortable with airflow to the back, and stop more often