Is it time for your dog to buckle up?
Road trips with your dog can be fun, but an unrestrained pup can become a dangerous distraction. A new survey commissioned by Erie Insurance shows Americans are equally divided as to whether or not they think their dogs could be distracting enough to cause an accident.
Pup's Position
Where they sit can be a driving distraction.
- 69% of surveyed drivers have indicated allowing their furry friends to sit in the back seat.
- 41% of surveyed drivers have indicated allowing their furry friends to sit in the front passenger seat.
- 13% of surveyed drivers have indicated allowing their furry friends to sit on the driver's lap.
Distraction Danger
More men (88%) than women (77%) admit to entertaining their dogs on long road trips.
45% let dogs hang heads out the window.
9% allow dogs to watch something on their phones.
Let Loose?
- Those surveyed are split on mandates
- Half of those surveyed disagree with laws mandating dog restraints
Eyes on the road, not on your dog
Tips for Travel
- Bring along a passenger who can focus on controlling the dog
- Use an approved dog restraint solution, i.e. harness, crate or doggie car seat
- Train your dog to be better behaved
About the Survey
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Erie Insurance from February 20-22, 2024, among 951 adults ages 18 and older who own a dog and are licensed drivers. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 3.8 percentage points using a 95% confidence interval.
