Study Finds Driving with Pets Increases the Chance of a Car Accident
| May 7th, 2013
May 7, 2013
Most people think of cellphones when they hear about the dangers of distracted driving. But a new study has shown our pets may create a similar risk when they ride in the car, especially among the elderly.
Researchers at the University of Alabama-Birmingham have shown that drivers over the age of 70 are twice as likely to be involved in an Alabama Car Accident if a pet is in the vehicle. Data showed drivers with pets in the vehicle were likely to look away from the road and focus their attention on their animal, rather than the road. The risk was even greater for the elderly because of slowed reaction times.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offered several safety tips to consider when traveling with a pet in a recent article by The Inquisitr. Their experts explained the importance of an animal being placed in a carrier or crate when in transit. The carrier should be well ventilated and tied down, so as to prevent it from rolling over while the vehicle is moving.
The Birmingham Personal Injury Lawyers with Norris Injury Lawyers acknowledge motorists can be distracted in many different ways and ask that drivers always keep their eyes on the road. Doing so will significantly reduce the chances of being involved in a collision.
