Urgent warning to dog owners over letting your pet do its favourite thing

YOUR dog might love nothing more than sticking its head out a car window while you drive - but it could cost you dearly.

Drivers might have to fork out £5,000 if their furry friends are caught enjoying the fresh air as road rules state they have to be restrained in vehicles.

Man's best friend must be secured while driving - as unrestrained pets could cause accidents if they are left to roam freely around inside cars.

A four-legged friend could either distract the driver or block their view of the road increasing the risk of an accident.

Rules state that pets have to be safely constrained in either a belt harness, a pet crate or cage, or in the boot of an estate car with a dividing dog guard.

Experts at Bristol Street Motors say: "Although it is common to see dogs with their heads out of car windows, the Highway Code states that when in a vehicle, dogs or other animals must be safely restrained.

"This is so that they cannot cause distraction or injury to the person driving.

"Even on the quietest of roads, drivers could face a significant fine of £5,000, as well as penalty points on their licence, for letting their pets rest out the window."

Rule 57 of the Highway Code 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."

While disobeying the Highway Code doesn't carry a direct penalty, drivers could be pulled over by police and fined up to £1,000 if spotted with their pooch's head out the window.

That could then escalate to a failure to drive with due care and attention - also known as careless driving - which carries a maximum fine of £5,000 and nine penalty points if the case goes to court.

In extreme cases, if an accident is caused as a result of an unrestrained pet, it could lead to a driving ban and a compulsory re-test.

To make matters worse, your insurer is likely to refuse a payout in the event of an accident, leaving you with a sizeable damage repair bill.

Experts estimate that if a car crashes at a speed of 25mph (40 km/h), an unrestrained dog can develop projection forces 40 times that of its weight - posing a risk to the driver, any passengers and itself.

In terms of certain dogs' fondness for moving around inside cars, Bristol Street Motors have some top tips to keeping your canine safe and secure on the road.

"You wouldn't allow an ordinary passenger to ride in your car without their seat belt on and the same applies to your dog too," say experts at the company.

"A dog seat belt or harness will ensure your dog is safely secured and reduces the risk of being distracted by them while driving."

These come in all sizes for all kinds of breeds and a local pet shop can help you find the right one.

To keep your pooch calm and settled, its important to keep the car comfortable to ease their nerves while travelling.

The experts recommend using a favourite blanket, a dog bed on the backseat or even a dog crate in the boot for the smaller breeds.

"For any car journeys, particularly those longer trips, remember to travel with water so your dog can stay hydrated while in the car," says Bristol Street Motors.

"This is especially important if it is a hot day or they have been on a long walk that you’re driving home from."

A travel dog bowl is also a good knack to have available for food and water on long journeys.

If you have a jumpy or nervous dog, then they Bristol Street Motors say to invest in a dog headrest guard.

"This will prevent your pup from jumping or trying to make their way to the front seat, ultimately helping to avoid distracting not only the person driving, but other motorists on the road," they explain.

Be extremely careful about leaving your dog by itself in a vehicle, the driving experts warn.

"The temperature inside a car can reach almost double of that outside – so even if it doesn't seem like a particularly warm day, there are risks that your dog may overheat inside a vehicle.

"What's more, leaving your dog alone inside a car can attract unwanted attention and could put your pet at risk of dognapping. So, it is best to avoid doing so as much as possible."