Car Restraints: What the Crash Tests Do and Don't Show
The UK Highway Code says to restrain dogs in cars. Crash tests by a US non-profit found many harnesses failed. What those tests do and don't show.
Written by thecanineledger
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In 2013, a US non-profit crash-tested dog car harnesses that claimed to protect dogs. A car maker that sponsored the study said the tests “uncovered serious flaws in many of the popular pet restraints currently on the market, with many resulting in catastrophic failure” (car maker’s press release, 2 October 2013).
While that finding is alarming, it comes from one round of tests that isn’t peer-reviewed. We found no peer-reviewed study of dog restraints in real crashes. This page sets out what the tests showed, and what the UK Highway Code says.
1. What the UK Highway Code says
The rule. Rule 57 says: “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.” (The Highway Code, GOV.UK).
Options it lists. “A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars.”
Is it the law? Rule 57 uses “make sure”, not “must”. The Code explains that rules which are legal requirements “are identified by the use of the words ‘ MUST/MUST NOT ’” (Highway Code introduction). Breaking other rules “will not, in itself, cause a person to be prosecuted”. But the Code “may be used in evidence in any court proceedings under the Traffic Acts”.
Where it applies. “This Highway Code applies to England, Scotland and Wales.”
Our note: Press stories often say drivers can be fined thousands of pounds for an unrestrained dog. We haven’t found the legal basis.
2. What the 2013 crash tests did
Who ran them. The Center for Pet Safety, a US non-profit, designed the tests with a car maker’s sponsorship. An independent lab that tests for the US road safety agency ran them.
How they worked. The tests were “to mirror the same crash tests used to measure the effectiveness of child safety products.” They used crash-test dog dummies weighing 25, 45 and 75 lb.
First, a strength test. Harnesses were pulled on a dog-shaped form, and only those that held moved on. “We had 7 harness brands move on to the crash testing phase for the 2013 harness study” (Center for Pet Safety).
The result. According to the press release, one harness was “the only harness tested to consistently keep a dog from launching off of the seat”. We don’t name it.
Our note: These tests are from 2013, and harness designs will have changed since.
3. What the tests don’t show
Not peer-reviewed. The results were published by the non-profit and the sponsor, not in a journal.
Dummies, not dogs. The tests measured whether a dummy stayed on the seat. They can’t tell us how often real dogs are hurt, or how badly.
No crash data. We found no study of how many dogs, or people, are hurt by unrestrained dogs in real crashes.
Strong isn’t the same as safe. The Center for Pet Safety says: “Meeting the preliminary testing requirement is no indicator of crash protection.”
Our note: We found no veterinary evidence on injuries to dogs inside cars in road accidents.
4. What to think about
- Distraction. The Highway Code’s first concern is that a loose dog can distract the driver.
- Claims on the box. A product saying “crash tested” doesn’t tell you what test it passed.
- Fit. A harness or crate that doesn’t fit your dog may not hold it.
- Heat. Never leave a dog in a parked car on a warm day.
Our note: These points are ours. The heat warning isn’t from the sources on this page.
→ Your Dog, Your Rights, and Other People’s Rules · → Collar or Harness: What the Pressure Studies Show
5. What we could not verify
| Commonly said | What we found |
|---|---|
| “It’s illegal to drive with an unrestrained dog” | Not in itself, in Great Britain. Rule 57 is advice, but the Code can be used in evidence in court. |
| “You can be fined £5,000” | No legal source found. |
| “Any harness will protect my dog” | Not in the 2013 tests. Only one of seven crash-tested harnesses consistently kept the dummy on the seat. |
| “Crash-tested means safe” | Not necessarily. There’s no single standard behind the claim. |
| “US states require restraints” | Not checked. |
Sources
- Department for Transport. The Highway Code: Rules about animals (47 to 58). GOV.UK, updated 29 January 2022. ⚠️ not peer-reviewed. Government guidance. Introduction
- Center for Pet Safety. 2013 Harness Study – Quasi-Static Tests. Read 4 November 2026. ⚠️ not peer-reviewed. Non-profit test report. Its site lists car and truck makers among its partners
- Car maker and Center for Pet Safety. Study Shows Many Pet Car Safety Restraints to Be Unsafe. Press release, 2 October 2013. ⚠️ not peer-reviewed. Sponsor’s press release. Names a product, which we don’t repeat
Always confirm with your vet before acting on anything on this page.