Transporting Dogs in Cars? Pet Safety Days with Tavo to Explain How to Ensure Compliance with Law, Safety, and Health

In our homes, there live nearly 20 million dogs and cats. Yet, when it comes to mobility, their safety on board seems to still be a psychological "optional" for too many Italian drivers. A recent survey conducted by Statista for Tavo Pets reveals a worrying picture: more than one in two people travel with their animal without any protection system.

We were guests at the Pet Safety Days, sponsored by Tavo Pets, a leading company in dog and cat transport systems, where we listened to valuable advice from various perspectives. Starting with that of Dr. Ettore Guidone, Vice Commissioner of the State Police, who explained what the regulations entail.

In case there is only one dog (or cat) in the car, the laws are actually quite lenient and leave room for common sense. However, the animal must never obstruct the driver’s view or movement, and it must not, of course, cause potentially dangerous distractions. In the case of more animals, it is forbidden for them to be free in the car; they must necessarily have containment measures, such as carriers or cages, or even dividers to transport them in the rear of the vehicle. But clearly, as the Vice Commissioner emphasized, the best thing would be that even a single animal is secured in a carrier or at least with specific seat belts.

Short Trips are as Dangerous as Long Ones

As pointed out by Maurizio Gussoni, Director of Via! Magazine of ACI Milano, too many drivers still underestimate the risk of short trips and in cities. Often, our four-legged friends are free in the car if the trip is brief, but just as happens with infants and children, it is in these situations that the greatest danger lurks, as it is underestimated. It is not just about respecting the Highway Code, but about facing the physics and the responsibility towards passengers, both human and not.

Physics Doesn’t Forgive: The "Bullet" Effect

Too often, what happens inside a vehicle during a sudden stop or impact is underestimated. The numbers are merciless: In the event of an impact at 50 km/h, the weight of an animal increases by up to 60 times. An unprotected animal poses a mortal risk to itself. The pet can turn into a devastating danger for other passengers and for other vehicles.

"Many people think they are protecting their animal, but they underestimate the real risks," explains Matteo Troncarelli of Tavo Pets. A dog free to move can distract the driver or interfere with driving controls. The data confirms the risk: one in three has experienced a distraction while driving caused by their pet in the 12 months prior to the survey.

Between Perception and Reality: The Survey Numbers

The gap between what owners think and what actually happens is clear:

• 78% of accidents occurred with animals not secured.
• Despite this, 58% of owners do not find security systems necessary if the animal remains calm.
• 59% of respondents involved in an accident (or that narrowly missed one) reported that their animal suffered injuries.

Well-Being Goes Through Safety

Beyond the protection factor, there is a fundamental psychological aspect. According to Dr. Zita Talamonti, a veterinarian specialized in animal behavior, about 60-70% of pets show signs of discomfort in the car. In this context, the carrier should not be seen as a "cage," but as a safe den. An adequate restraint system reduces anxiety, prevents the animal from sliding during turns, and can even alleviate nausea related to motion sickness.

Tips for a Peaceful Journey

To enhance the onboard experience, experts suggest a gradual approach:

1. Gradual Introduction: Acclimating the animal to the carrier takes an average of 2 to 4 weeks.
2. Positive Associations: Use treats and toys to not link the car only to negative experiences like vet visits.
3. Signal Monitoring: Do not ignore shaking, excessive drooling, or immobility; a still animal isn’t necessarily calm.
4. Thermal Comfort: The car can overheat in a few minutes, exposing pets to potentially lethal heat strokes.
5. Feeding: Avoid heavy meals before departure, but always ensure water with regular breaks.

Technological Standards: Just Like for Children

The frontier of pet safety today moves towards standards for child car seats. There are solutions based on the UN ECE R129 regulation, subject to advanced crash tests and equipped with ISOFIX systems. And this is precisely what Tavo Pets demonstrated at the same event, though without placing too much emphasis on the products, but rather on the advice we shared.

But we took a close look anyway, discovering "carriers" whose quality is equal (if not superior) to that of children’s products. The Isofix attachment makes the carrier stylish and easy to attach and remove, even if it appears almost not to be connected to the seat. In reality, putting a lot of effort into it with your hands, it barely wiggles. In the cases of larger animals, there is also a version with a top tether strap, to prevent unwanted movements.

The interior is comfortable, with removable mats, components that can be machine washed, rigid parts covered with special foams, and the orientation is always parallel to the seat, so that even in case of impact the animal experiences force on the side, in the direction of a sort of cocoon, and not on the head as it could be with a traditional carrier secured perpendicularly to the seat. All these choices were made by Tavo thanks to crash tests with mannequins developed specifically, using the same standards and methods used for human car seats.

The Pet Safety Days continue today, where you can see Tavo products firsthand and receive advice from experts at the GUD venue in CityLife, Milan, from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM.