iN NUMBERS: How B.C. drivers secure their pets, or don’t

Pretty much every pet owner will tell you how much they adore their furry friend, but they don’t always make sure they’re secure in the car.

ICBC asked drivers in a survey why they don’t keep their pets safe while driving.

“For many of us, pets are part of the family, and we want them with us wherever we go,” Kathleen Nadalin, ICBC road safety manager said in a press release.

“An unrestrained pet can be a serious distraction and a safety risk in a crash. Taking a few simple steps to secure your pet properly can help protect everyone in the vehicle.”

Here are the numbers:

• 36: Per cent of drivers surveyed always secure their pet in the car.
• 12: Per cent of drivers surveyed said the pet rides on a passenger’s lap.
• 2: Per cent of drivers surveyed said their pet sometimes sits on the driver’s lap. Hopefully, those aren’t Great Dane owners.
• 34: Per cent of drivers surveyed who don’t secure their pets said they don’t think it’s dangerous to have an unrestrained pet in the car.
• 33: Per cent of drivers surveyed who secure their pet use a crate.
• 16: Per cent of drivers surveyed who secure their pet use a harness or seatbelt attachment.
• 39: Per cent of drivers surveyed who said they don’t secure their pet said it was because trips are usually short.
• 36: Per cent of drivers surveyed who don’t secure their pet said they don’t need to secure their pets because they are calm or well-trained.
• 57: Per cent of British Columbians surveyed said they have left their pet unattended in a vehicle in the last year.