BRANCHVILLE, N.J., March 28,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dogs may be man's best friend,
but they aren't always a safe driving companion. A recent poll
commissioned by Selective Insurance, a leading business, home, and
auto insurance carrier, found that dogs frequently cause distracted
driving on US roadways.
40% of surveyed drivers confessed to
reckless driving as a direct result of having their dog in the
vehicle.
The study, conducted online by The Harris Poll, found that
91% of licensed drivers who drove with their dogs over the last 12
months admitted to interacting with them while driving. Many of
these interactions required the driver to take their hands off the
wheel or eyes off the road. Of this group, nearly half (48%)
acknowledged that they are more distracted when their dog is in the
vehicle than when it is not.
"We love our dogs. However, some of their behaviors in the car,
such as sitting on drivers' laps, jumping between seats, or
sticking their heads out the window, divert drivers' attention from
operating a vehicle," said Scott
Smith, Vice President, Director of Safety Management,
Selective Insurance. "To help keep our roads safe, drivers need to
minimize distractions. That means our beloved pet passengers should
be restrained in the car's backseat, and if they need tending,
drivers should first pull over to a safe place."
Some of the more hazardous behaviors that drivers participated
in while on the road with their dog in the past 12 months
include giving them food/treats/water (36%), taking a photo/video
of their dog while driving (27%), or holding them in place (23%).
In addition, 40% of surveyed drivers confessed to reckless driving
as a direct result of having their dog in the vehicle, such as:
- 16% experienced a lack of awareness of other vehicles
around them.
- 13% hard braked.
- 11% swerved out of the traffic lane.
- 9% got into a car accident.
A significant 70% of licensed drivers who drove with their dogs
in the past 12 months said their dogs were unrestrained in the
vehicle. Yet, 82% of survey participants agree that having an
unrestrained dog in a moving vehicle can distract the driver.
Some states have animal restraint laws for vehicles to
help keep drivers safe and focused. Awareness, however, is low.
Only 24% of licensed drivers who drove with their dog in the past
12 months said they are very familiar with such laws in their state
compared to 34% who said they didn't know these laws existed.
Click here to view additional findings from
Selective's Distracted Driving study and ways to help keep our
roadways safe, K-9 companions secure, and vehicles free from
distraction.
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online
within the United States by The
Harris Poll on behalf of Selective Insurance from
March 2-6, 2023, among 2,044 US
adults ages 18 and older, among whom 992 are licensed drivers who
drove with their dog in the past 12 months. The sampling precision
of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible
interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to
within +/- 2.8 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For
complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and
subgroup sample sizes, please
contact Katelyn.Leondi@Selective.com.
About Selective Insurance
Selective Insurance Group,
Inc. (Nasdaq: SIGI) is a holding company for 10 property and
casualty insurance companies rated "A+" (Superior) by AM Best.
Through independent agents, the insurance companies offer standard
and specialty insurance for commercial and personal risks and flood
insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program's Write Your
Own Program. Selective's unique position as both a leading
insurance group and an employer of choice is recognized in a wide
variety of awards and honors, including listing in Forbes Best
Midsize Employers in 2023 and certification as a Great Place to
Work® in 2022 for the third consecutive year. For more
information about Selective, visit www.Selective.com.
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SOURCE Selective Insurance Group, Inc.