Motorists could be fined as much as £5,000 for driving with a dog in the car.
Major Highway Code changes were introduced in January, with motoring organisations urging drivers to take not of the updates, and to also familiarise themselves with the driving rules again.
Rule 57 relates to travelling with dogs and other pets in your vehicle. It mentions a numbers of measures motorists must take to ensure the safety of both the animal/s and anybody travelling in the car.
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The rule in full 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."
Failing to adhere to this could land you with a hefty fine. To stay safe while driving, make sure your dog, or any other pet, is restrained appropriately so it doesn’t distract you or hurt you or itself if you suddenly come to a stop.
While breaking the Highway Code does not carry a direct penalty, drivers who are deemed to be distracted on the road could be given a £1,000 on-the-spot fine for careless driving. This carries a maximum fine of up to £5,000 and nine penalty points, depending on the severity of the breach.
Drivers also risk causing an accident on the road by failing to restrain their pet. In extreme cases, breaking this rule could also result in a driving ban and a compulsory re-test.
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