Drivers can be fined up to £5,000 for travelling with an unrestrained dog. The rule, number 57 of the Highway Code, states that any animal that is taken on a car journey must be "suitably restrained" so as not to distract the driver or interfere with their concentration or driving.
The rule also ensures pets and their owners are not injured in the event of sudden stoppages or collisions, as Gloucestershire Live reports. The rule further suggests a number of ways that pets could be secured on journeys, such as seat belt harnesses, pet carriers, or dog cages.
The full rule 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."
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Any motorists who fall foul of the rule could receive a £100 on-the-spot fine if they are seen to be distracted. However, failure to pay this fine could result in a court case and a maximum fine of £5,000.
There are plenty of other rules governing the ways animals must be handled and considered on the roads, with instructions governing everything from the way animals are herded on public highways all the way to the treatment and handling of horse-drawn vehicles. Horse riders are also subject to a number of rules, both in themselves and in the way they should be approached and passed by vehicle users.
These include strict restrictions on what horse riders should wear while out on public roads, ensuring all equipment is in good order, the horse being well-trained and easily handled and avoiding roundabouts. It is commonly known that drivers must, when passing horses on roads, slow down when passing and give them a wide berth.
In other motoring news, two big number plate rule changes have now come into effect. New plates must now be more resistant to debris, plus new two-tone 3D effect plates have been banned.
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