Anyone Driven With a Dog in the Passenger Seat?

[sharpyboy]

Hi Guys
As in the title I was just wondering if anyone has driven their Zed with a dog in the Passenger seat? I am going to be looking after my sons bulldog for 5 days and wondered if I can take him out in my Zed for walks each day. Do you restrain the dog in the seat with a harness? Use a cover on the seats? How did it work out?

:driving: Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

you can get a dog seatbelt

 

[1000rr]

Yup...all the time. I use a dog seatbelt clip that attaches to his lead as the occupancy sensor keeps beeping without one...

 

[IRD]

As with others I bought a harness which clips to the seatbelt and makes it all legal. Insurance could be void if the dog is not properly restrained. My Gordon Setter, sadly no longer with us, absolutely loved riding with the top down. I used to get some odd looks when we stopped at the traffic lights on the way into Lincoln. Unfortunately I don’t have any photographs. :roll:

 

[saj77]

I’ve been looking at getting one of these for my Red Setter. looks a much more secure option....

 

[Silverstar]

My dog is a) probably too big to sit in the car and b) would jump out if he saw a cat! :lol:

 

[IRD]

Worth mentioning. Cover vulnerable trim with an old towel or something similar. Dog claws can soon cause some damage. My E85 had been owned by a guy with a Labrador and the central trim was badly scratched.

 

[mgrlane]

I would have a read up on it as the law is open to interpretation. My take on it from the reading I have done is that it's a bit "moody' as they can argue (especially in a Z4) that in the passanger seat restrained that they can still "get at the driver"

If anyone can find something that proves me wrong otherwise please let me know as I am planning a trip to see my family in Norfolk next month and I want to take my and not her car.

Funny enough I have been testing out how I can get the dog and the cage down there. It's good to have a coupe!

 

[Tinker15]

From the Ask the Police website:

Rule 57 of the Highway Code states:

"When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars."

This is not a legal requirement that is set out in legislation, and so failure to comply with this rule will not, in itself, cause a person to be prosecuted. However, please note that failure to comply with such sections of the Highway Code may still be used in evidence in any court proceedings under the Traffic Acts to establish liability.

 

[mgrlane]

From the Ask the Police website:

Rule 57 of the Highway Code states:

"When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars."

This is not a legal requirement that is set out in legislation, and so failure to comply with this rule will not, in itself, cause a person to be prosecuted. However, please note that failure to comply with such sections of the Highway Code may still be used in evidence in any court proceedings under the Traffic Acts to establish liability.

I read this previously- I thought that by having them in the seat next to you and not the back seats it could constitute to "distract you while you are driving".

Do we have any coppers on here?

 

[Silverstar]

I would have a read up on it as the law is open to interpretation. My take on it from the reading I have done is that it's a bit "moody' as they can argue (especially in a Z4) that in the passanger seat restrained that they can still "get at the driver"

If anyone can find something that proves me wrong otherwise please let me know as I am planning a trip to see my family in Norfolk next month and I want to take my and not her car.

Funny enough I have been testing out how I can get the dog and the cage down there. It's good to have a coupe!

Poor dog looks squashed in that pic :?

 

[Tinker15]

From the Ask the Police website:

Rule 57 of the Highway Code states:

"When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars."

This is not a legal requirement that is set out in legislation, and so failure to comply with this rule will not, in itself, cause a person to be prosecuted. However, please note that failure to comply with such sections of the Highway Code may still be used in evidence in any court proceedings under the Traffic Acts to establish liability.

I read this previously- I thought that by having them in the seat next to you and not the back seats it could constitute to "distract you while you are driving".

Do we have any coppers on here?

From the Ask the Police website:

Rule 57 of the Highway Code states:

"When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars."

This is not a legal requirement that is set out in legislation, and so failure to comply with this rule will not, in itself, cause a person to be prosecuted. However, please note that failure to comply with such sections of the Highway Code may still be used in evidence in any court proceedings under the Traffic Acts to establish liability.

I read this previously- I thought that by having them in the seat next to you and not the back seats it could constitute to "distract you while you are driving".

Do we have any coppers on here?

I'm neither a lawyer of copper but couldn't you say the same thing if you had a child sat next to you?

 

[mgrlane]

I'm neither a lawyer of copper but couldn't you say the same thing if you had a child sat next to you?

I guess but all we have to run off is Rule 57 which covers animals.

It's just not very clear is it.

You probably would say that having the dog in the passengers seat with an appropriate harness fits the law better than having the dog in th boot with no harness and no guard.

Best case would be having the dog on a back seat with a harness or in the boot with a harness.

I have a harness like to the one above by the same brand- I think it cost £18 quid off amazon. I will put the dog in my passenger seat with the harness on and report back if anyone is interested? Perhaps 1000rr could confirm if his pooch can get at him with his car harness on?

 

[RustyZ4]

I sometimes take my golden retriever in the car, again like the others I fit a harness, trouble is she barks at mopeds :rofl:

 

[Sidewaze Samm]

Should I feel bad that after reading the topic title, my first thought was "That's no way to talk about the wife!"?

 

[RustyZ4]

Should I feel bad that after reading the topic title, my first thought was "That's no way to talk about the wife!"?

:rofl: before I was married, driven with a few of those too

 

[jamesditchy]

I take our boxer out in mine all the time. He loves the wind in his floppy cheeks.

 

[jamesditchy]

I take our boxer out in mine all the time. He loves the wind in his floppy cheeks.

Meant to say hes 5 times that size now tho haha

 

[firebobby]

My mate has a boxer and she drawls everywhere, make sure you put towels down to catch the slobber

 

[jamesditchy]

My mate has a boxer and she drawls everywhere, make sure you put towels down to catch the slobber

After his plain cheeseburger and strawberry milkshake I'm glad the dash is easy to wipe over. It's easier to clean his slobber off the dash than the missus make up any way, let's hope she don't read this