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Driving with Pets: Essential Rules and Fines in the Canaries

Essential Rules for Travelling with Pets in Your Car

Many families take their pets with them on journeys, but it is fundamental to comply with regulations and exercise extreme caution at all times when transporting them in vehicles. The Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) reminds drivers that they must respect the established rules to guarantee road safety and reduce accidents on the roads. Inside the vehicle, both passengers and any objects being transported must be correctly positioned, and the same applies to pets. “People who own animals must know the rules that apply to them and what should be done and avoided. If we comply, we will help improve Road Safety for our own benefit and that of the rest of society,” they insist.

Legal Obligations and Correct Restraint Systems

Article 18.1 of the General Traffic Regulations states that “the driver of a vehicle is obliged to maintain his own freedom of movement, the necessary field of vision and permanent attention to driving, which guarantees his own safety, that of the other occupants of the vehicle and that of other road users. To this end, he must take special care to maintain the appropriate position and that it is maintained by the other passengers, and the appropriate placement of objects or animals transported so that there is no interference between the driver and any of them.”

You should never travel with an animal loose inside the passenger compartment, as this poses a risk to both the pet and the other occupants. The DGT recommends using an appropriate restraint system such as safety harnesses, carriers, or compartment dividers. Objects should not be placed next to the animal, as they could be thrown in the event of an impact.

Practical Advice for a Safe Journey

It is advisable to take a break every two hours so that both the pet and the driver can rest and hydrate before continuing the journey. Never leave pets inside a vehicle in high temperatures. During travel, the vehicle must maintain adequate ventilation. The traffic authority advises getting the animal accustomed to travelling while secured from a young age and insists that a lead is not a valid restraint system.

The same Traffic Regulations state in Article 3 that “you must drive with the necessary diligence and precaution to avoid any damage, your own or that of others, taking care not to endanger the driver himself, the other occupants of the vehicle and the rest of the road users. Driving in a negligent or reckless manner is strictly prohibited.”

Substantial Fines for Non-Compliance

Transporting pets correctly in a vehicle is not just a matter of comfort, but also of safety. The Royal Automobile Club of Spain (RACE) explains that drivers must secure all types of animals so they travel well restrained and protected, otherwise they could face serious financial penalties. The regulations contemplate different sanctions depending on the severity of the offence.

If a pet is not correctly secured, it is considered a serious offence and is punishable by a €200 fine. If the animal travels freely around the vehicle or on the driver’s lap, it is considered “negligent driving,” which can lead to a €500 fine and the loss of 6 points from the driving licence. The most serious situation is if an accident occurs with the animal loose in the car. In that case, it is classified as reckless driving, which carries fines of €1,000 and the loss of 6 points from the licence.

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