Why do people drive around with their dog on their lap?  

I so wish that people would stop and think about the actions they take while on the road. When my children miss behave in the car, I pull over to the side of the road or into a parking lot to take care of it. I think that all people should have respect for one another while driving. Just my 2 cents worth. :)

i love animals, but i do not treat them like they are children, its getting ridiculous how people act with their animals. its great to have a pet, but for petes sake, i have seen all these celebrities that dress them, and carry them around in their purses-how stupid...

Ok so i drive with my small chihuahua and she is very scared in the car when we get on the hwy and she gets on my lap turns forward and backs her but up and down beside me and the car door. So only her head and front feet are on my left leg. If that makes sense!

She is out of my way and forget she is there all the time! If i try and put her in the back or in the pass seat she cries and tries to fight me to get in that spot!

I bring her to work with me bc I work long hours in the city and it would be mean for me to leave alone at home all that time!

but i do not love on her and play with her while i am driving and no one out of my car can even see her.

now everytime we stop she thinks its time to get out and sits up and looks out the window and then we move and she gets back in her spot!

I have found that my dog doesnt distract me however she distracts other drivers! Like at lights and stuff when she pops up they other drivers are all looking at her and they dont pay attetion to what they are doing!!!

So I think if a person is going to be distracted they are going to be distracted no matter if they have a dog in the car or not!!!

And maybe actual driving test should be issued everynow and then in place of written!!!

What I don't understand is for all the people who say they love their pet, why so you endenager it's life? Animals when in cars should be restrained for safety the same as anyone else in your car. Do you buckle up?

I agree the makeup thing and shaving are also irresponsible actions that can cause accidents. I understand everyone is in a hurry nowadays, but common sense and safety people, do we really need the government to make a law? Your right we follow the laws for our children, at least most do, they ride in car seats or at least buckled in to a seat belt not on our laps. :)

I'm always upset when I see people doing irresponsible things while driving and endngering others. A car can be a dangerous "weapon", for lack of a better word, and people just don't realize how dangerous everyday things can be. :) I'm very happy that neither incident resulted in an accident. It was just because I had noticed the animals on their laps and paid closer attention to them while traveling down the road near them. :)

Everyones life is worth more, and people should be paying attetion to their driving and not their pet, or their kids, or applying makeup or shaving. Driving is a priveledge not a right! Just my 2 cents worth. :)

LOL, American moveies, that's why they do it. I just wonder do they realize how dangerous it is? I just had to vent!! :)

Yes, for cyclist it is even more of a danger I atleast have a vehicle surrounding me for some protection from injury from people not paying attention, you/they don't. I also hope that these people are pulled over and sited. :)

I agree that it's not the animals fault but the owner. I also think that restrining an animal is the safest bet when in a car, if for some reason you had to slam on the brakes or you were rear ended your poor animal could be thrown through a windshield. How terrible would peole feel if this happened? Would they take the balme or blame the other person for rear ending them? I feel both are to blame. Just my 2 cents worth. :)

I really don't know if there is a law or not, but I think I'm going to find out. These 2 incidents were my first close encounters. I have seen for years people not paying attention because of their pet but never have I almost been hit and for it to happen twice just got me to thinking how dangerous is this? What do others think? I actually debated on whether to do this discussion because of people getting angry, but thought I want to know if it's just me. :)

Laws on this topic probably vary from city to city...In many areas though, there are no laws regarding this unsafe act. I have personally seen three different accidents which were caused by tiny lap dogs who had distracted their owners while driving causing them to crash. I think, like previously stated, with the "NO CELLULAR PHONE" while driving, why not make a law that states, any other action that causes a distraction while driving is illegal.

I think that you are correct, the law shouldn't be aimed at one distraction it should include other distractions that you could be cited for.

I agree completely, it's extremely dangerous and puts the animal at great risk for injury or even worse. :)