2023-05-06 11:00:00
“I must have told my wife 100 times that it doesn’t make sense to drive with our Chihuahua on your lap. She doesn’t want to hear anything, tells me that it doesn’t matter, that he is very small, that it doesn’t change anything. She finds him cute with his head out of the car and his tongue hanging out! Does she have the right to do this? Is it illegal? I don’t know what to say to him! – Denis Martel
Answer
Good morning. You do well to be concerned regarding the situation, for several reasons. Under section 442 of the Highway Safety Code, “It is prohibited to drive a road vehicle when an animal obstructs the driver’s view or interferes with his driving. » If we look at the verbatim of the article, there is a good chance that your spouse will dispute this article if she thinks that your dog does not bother her when she drives. We can believe that this is true if we simply drive without constraint, but will the situation be the same if an emergency situation arises in front of the car? Necessarily, doggie will become a source of complications.
In the event of an impact, like any moving object tends to remain so, your Chihuahua’s 2 kilos are multiplied by 20. Pitou therefore becomes a 40-kilo projectile. Should we talk regarding his chances of survival in the event of the deployment of the airbag whose strike force is more than 300 kilometers per hour over a distance of 12 to 18 inches? Its position might not only kill your dog instantly, but also cause very serious injury to your spouse. Even though it says it doesn’t go fast, in some cases like hitting a pole or a tree, the airbags can deploy below 150 kilometers per hour.
We can understand that it’s cute a dog that sticks its head out of the vehicle with its tongue hanging out and enjoys the fresh air. However, there once more, there is a very great risk for the animal. It can receive an insect, no matter the size, in the face, stones thrown by other vehicles, the list of possibilities is long, even another vehicle too close… For the great outdoors and especially its safety, it is recommended Avoid opening the window enough for the animal to stick its head out. Even if this is not your case, this logic also applies to those who install their dog in the bed of their van. In a completely different order of ideas, even if it is rare, it is possible that the animal moves under the pedals, accelerator or brake, which can cause a significant loss of control of the vehicle.
There is no law that forces owners to immobilize their pet on board. The Highway Traffic Act recommends several avenues to improve general safety when transporting an animal. It is recommended that the animal be fitted with a harness compatible with a seat belt or infant seat anchors. Depending on the type of vehicle, cargo nets or mesh barriers are a viable option as well as a traditional cage. In any case, this in no way guarantees the physical integrity of the animal in the event of an impact, but it serves to limit the movements of its body in the cockpit. If your spouse really loves your Chihuahua, there is no doubt that she will take the necessary measures for her safety and, above all, yours.
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