Car accessories

Dog car harnesses

An NRMA safety test of pet car harnesses put most models in the doghouse.
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Last updated: 18 Dec 2014
dog in car harness

In the event of a car crash, you want your whole family to be safe – and that includes the four-legged family members. But will a car harness actually save your dog from injury? And will it keep other passengers in the car safe?

Engineers from the NRMA Insurance Research Centre tested six car harnesses for dogs and found only two would offer protection for you and your pet in a collision.

Buckle up, boy

An effective harness is critical when travelling with a dog.

  • It keeps the animal safe and restrained.
  • The driver is less likely to be distracted by their pet moving around.
  • An unrestrained dog could injure other passengers in a collision.

Crash test puppy

NRMA’s testing was conducted by dropping weighted harnesses at speeds of up to 35km/h. The in-car testing was conducted using a specially modified crash test car at speeds of up to 20km/h.

Of the six harnesses tested, only two restrained the ‘dummy’. This was due to weak plastic buckles similar to those used on many backpacks.

Verdict

People who use a dog harness want to keep their pets safe. However, the testing has shown that most harnesses were effective at restraining pets while driving, but do little to prevent injury in a common low-speed crash.

HarnessResult
Source: Information provided by the NRMA Insurance Research Centre in December 2013
Matthew

I've worked for CHOICE for roughly 20 years, from customer service to testing and content production and now to Director of Reviews and Testing, which conducts all the testing content for CHOICE. My background in IT started my path in testing for CHOICE Computer, but CHOICE has a strong call for me because of two core elements - it's a for-purpose business that is mission driven. That mission attracts a range of passionate people, including our staff and members alike, dedicated to making Australia more fair, safe and just for Australian consumers.  My educational background is in Ethics and I currently sit as a council member on the Standards Australia Council, representing CHOICE. I'm also one of the people that add up the energy and carbon credits to make sure we stay carbon neutral. You can find me on LinkedIn.

I've worked for CHOICE for roughly 20 years, from customer service to testing and content production and now to Director of Reviews and Testing, which conducts all the testing content for CHOICE. My background in IT started my path in testing for CHOICE Computer, but CHOICE has a strong call for me because of two core elements - it's a for-purpose business that is mission driven. That mission attracts a range of passionate people, including our staff and members alike, dedicated to making Australia more fair, safe and just for Australian consumers.  My educational background is in Ethics and I currently sit as a council member on the Standards Australia Council, representing CHOICE. I'm also one of the people that add up the energy and carbon credits to make sure we stay carbon neutral. You can find me on LinkedIn.

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