Stricter controls on securing dogs in travelling vehicles, including the crash testing of car harnesses, are needed in the UK, according to a leading pet supplier. 

Alex Wilson, sales and marketing director of AmPet Products, believes that incidents of serious injury or even death to pets involved in traffic accidents could become more common if animals aren't better restrained inside cars.

"Many of us have to travel great distances with our dogs, and yet so many of them are not restrained in cars," says Alex (pictured left). "Or if they are, the equipment used is neither safe, nor tested to be suitable for the vehicle. 

"The highway code states that a dog must not be a distraction...yet it does not state or offer any guidelines as to what equipment should be used. 

"Even RoSPA in their information about travelling dogs in cars only talks about using a car harness but offers no guidelines on what is a suitable car harness for a dog. 

"Here in the UK we have no legislation as to what is deemed a suitable safe car harness or crate.

"Most UK retailed car harnesses have had no crash testing and would fail crash testing if they were tested. There are a couple of US-based and Canadian companies who manufacture car harnesses who have had their products tested that are distributed in the UK. The Roadie from Ruff Rider Technology and the Canine Friendly Car Harness from RC Pet Products have been tested and exceed minimum safety standards and distributed by AmPet Products. 

"Crates are another issue. Wire crates sold over the counter in pet shops, whilst ideal as a driver distraction, would give the dog no protection in an accident, in fact they would collapse onto the dog. There is a Swedish crate distributed by Safe Dog in London that has been fully crash tested and ideal for travelling dogs. 

Safety for dogs in a car is not just about the dog, but the driver and passengers too," added Alex "If there should be an accident and the dog is either unrestrained or in a harness that blows apart, then that dog will become a projectile and could injure or kill anyone in the car. The safest place for a dog in an accident is to end up in the footwell."

For information about crash-tested car harnesses visit www.ampetproducts.com