Motorists need to be aware of the one driving law that could see them slapped with a £5,000 fine – or worse, banned from driving.
With many drivers be heading on the roads for the Easter Bank Holiday, motorists need to be aware that allowing your dog to hang its head out of the car window while driving could cost you dearly.
According to used car buying service ChooseMyCar.com, one rule of the Highway Code means that drivers who don’t adequately restrain their pet while driving could land in hot water.
By allowing your pet to hang their head outside of a vehicle demonstrates the fact that the animal is not properly secured to the car, according to the Highway Code.
Not only is this dangerous, but it is also likely to result in the driver being pulled over.
There is one rule of the Highway Code that means drivers who don’t adequately restrain their pet while driving could land themselves in hot water
Founder of ChooseMyCar.com, Nick Zapolski, has urged Brits to restrain their pooches properly when going on any journey, no matter how short it is
Rule 57 of the Highway Code clearly states that: ‘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 safely restraining animals in cars.’
And if a driver is stopped and found not to be following this guidance, they can face a series of fines.
Drivers can be slapped with an on-the-spot fine of a maximum of £5,000.
They can also incur up to nine points on their license, or worst of all, they can even be given a full driving ban – meaning they will have to do a compulsory re-test to get their license back.
Following this the founder of ChooseMyCar.com, Nick Zapolski, has urged Brits to restrain their pooches properly when going on any journey, no matter how short it is.
He added that many drivers are not aware of Rule 57 and are therefore vulnerable to losing their licence.
Mr Zapolski said: ‘It always raises a smile when you see a happy dog with its head hanging out the window, ears flopping in the wind, but it’s an obvious way to demonstrate that you aren’t following Rule 57 – and that could cost you your licence.
‘And it’s not just that – in the event of an accident, an unrestrained dog could do serious damage to itself and the people in the car.
‘It’s cheap and simple to get a seatbelt for your dog or a dog guard for the boot – and can save a lot of heartache.’
