Alaska Drivers Traveling with Pets in the Car

If you plan to drive with your pet in your car in Alaska, then you should take all the precautions necessary to make sure that your trip is as safe as possible.

Pet safety while driving often goes overlooked by drivers, but it can be just as important as not using your cell phone while driving and paying attention to other drivers.

There are also steps that you can take to make sure that you are prepared with your pet for an emergency on the road. If you happen to be injured in an accident with your pet, your collision insurance may cover the damage as long as the incident was not your fault.

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Pet Safety Often Gets Overlooked by Drivers in Alaska

Did you know that about 30 percent of drivers say that they have been distracted by their dog while driving? This frightening statistic from the AAA & Kurgo Pet Passenger Survey is a good wake-up call for drivers who plan to take their pets on the road.

Given that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that an estimated 20 percent of all car crashes in the U.S. in 2009 were caused by distracted driving, this issue should be taken very seriously.

How to Prepare a Pet for Traveling in the Car with You

– Safety Tips

One of the best ways to make sure that your pet does not become a distraction for you while driving is to purchase a tested crate or harness to properly restrain your pet.

This could also prevent your pet from being thrown out of the vehicle in the event of a collision. It is never a good idea to keep your pet in the front seat of the car with you because it could interfere with your driving and be more easily crushed in an accident.

In Alaska, it is even more important to consider cold weather precautions for traveling with your pet.

Be sure to keep your pet away from antifreeze leaks around your vehicle because this could be poisonous to it.

Also, make sure to have some extra pet food and blankets with you because pets burn more energy in the winter to try to stay warm. In case you are stranded on the side of the road with your pet, you want to be able to protect it from the cold with booties or a winter vest.

If you plan on going on a long trip, it is a great idea to get a vet checkup in before you depart. If your pet experiences any sickness while traveling in a vehicle — such as nausea and vomiting — a vet may be able to recommend some precautionary medications.

Keep in mind that when you are traveling in Alaska, you are required by law to maintain control of your pet in all public areas.

This includes keeping control of your pet using a leash to minimize any threat to public safety.

If you are able to control your pet by your command, this is also an acceptable means of control. However, a much safer and more secure option is to have a functional lease ready to use for your pet while traveling to new public spaces.

– What to Bring

You should always have a pet-friendly travel kit in your car that includes all of the essentials to take care of your pet. Some important things to bring include:

• a water bowl
• food
• a leash
• a blanket
• the phone number of your vet

You may have to make an unscheduled stop, so you should be prepared to supervise and occupy your pet while you attend to something else. Make sure that you have a plan in place to keep watch over your dog while you are out of sight, even if you are gone for a short time.

– Planning Ahead

If you are driving on a longer trip, you should make sure that you have a list of pet-friendly rest stops that you can visit along the way.

You do not ever want to leave your pet in the car while you stop to use a rest area. In addition, you should also check into hotels that are pet-friendly in case you need to stay overnight.

Auto Insurance Laws and Requirements in Alaska

If you are wondering whether vet bills for your pet would be covered in the event of an accident, the answer is probably yes as long as you have a collision auto insurance policy.

In Alaska, all drivers are required to have a basic auto liability policy, but you can also add on supplemental coverages if there are extra things that you need to protect, such as a pet while traveling.

Remember that a collision auto insurance policy may not cover damages to your pet if you were the cause of the accident. For this policy, your pet would be considered your personal property. You may also need to show proof of vet bills to collect damages for injuries to your pet.

When you are shopping around for auto insurance rates in Alaska, keep in mind that not all drivers follow the law to get insurance.

In fact, about 13.2 percent of drivers in Alaska do not carry the required insurance, according to the Insurance Research Council.

This means that adding uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage could be a very good idea because it will protect you in case you are hit by a driver who does not follow the law in Alaska regarding required auto insurance coverage.

Recap on Driving with Pets in Your Car in Alaska

If you are going on a trip in the car with your pets, there are precautions that you should take to make sure that they are safe to travel.

You should make sure that your pet will not be a distraction to you while driving as well as protect your pet in the event that an emergency happens on the road.

This includes preparing an emergency pet travel kit as well as restraining your pet so that it is not hurt as badly from an impact. Also, if your pet is injured in an accident that was caused by another driver, you might be able to recover for the vet bills through your collision auto insurance.

If you’re not sure you have the right coverage or think you could be paying too much, make sure to compare policies, coverage, and price.

You should compare like this at least every six months. In Alaska, where the weather, animals, and other drivers pose a risk to your vehicle, having the right coverage is paramount.

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