Branchville, NJ, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Recently, Seleve Insurance, a leading provider of commercial, home and auto insurance, said all drivers face distractions when traveling with their dogs. But drivers in the West are more likely than residents in other parts of the country to engage in reckless driving behavior when their four-legged friends are in the car.
The study, conducted online by The Harris Poll, found that more than 4% of licensed drivers in the West – more than 4% – have driven with their dogs on various routes. Driving recklessly with their dogs in the vehicle. The data is particularly worrying because 94% of licensed dog owners in the West have driven with their dogs in the past 12 months. More than two-thirds (71%) do it at least once a week.
The survey found that 23% of drivers in the Midwest who drive with a dog admit they are not aware of the vehicles around them because their dog is in the car – compared to 16% in the South, 15% in the Northeast and 9% in the Midwest. In addition, more than ten (13%) Western drivers admitted to being in a car accident because of their dog, compared to 8% in the South, Northeast and Midwest.
“More pets at home, especially as the pandemic begins, more Americans may be hitting the road more than ever, especially as we head into spring and winter. We love our pets, but drivers need to understand the risk. It’s about taking them for a ride,” he said. Scott Smith, Vice President, Director of Safety Management. “To promote safe driving with dogs, they recently offered a selection of 1,000 dog seat belts to motorists – our customers requested them all within hours.”
When it comes to how licensed handlers interact with their dogs over the past 12 months, other key regional findings include:
- Those in the Northeast are more likely than those in the West to say they have a pet when they drive their dog (58% vs. 44%).
- Midwestern drivers are more likely than those in the South to say they have given their dog food, treats, or water while driving (42% vs. 32%).
- Across states, the most common place a dog is in the car is the back seat (among licensed drivers who have traveled with their dog in the past 12 months: 71% Northeast, 68% Midwest, 64% West, and 58% South).
- Of particular concern, nearly one in five (19%) licensed drivers in the West had driven with their dog in the past 12 months.
See for more details These additional findings From Selective’s Distracted Driver study and tips for driving safely with a dog in the car.
Survey method
This survey was conducted online in the United States by The Harris Poll by Selective Insurance from March 2-6, 2023, among 2,044 American adults ages 18 and older, including 992 licensed drivers who drove with their dog in the past 12 years. months. The sampling precision of Harris Online polls is measured using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data are accurate to within +/- 2.8 percentage points using the 95% confidence level. For full survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact [email protected]. The geographic alignment for each region mentioned is listed below.
- Northeast: Connecticut, Delaware, District of ColumbiaMaine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, new york, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia
- Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin
- south: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia
- west Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
About selective insurance
Select Insurance Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SIGI) is a holding company for 10 property and casualty insurance companies rated “A+” (Superior) by AM Best. Through independent agents, insurance companies offer standard and specialty insurance for commercial and personal accidents and flood insurance.Write your own through the National Flood Insurance Program. Selector’s Specialty Placement is recognized as a leading insurance group and employer of choice with numerous awards and accolades, including recognition on Forbes’ 2023 list of Best Mid-Range Employers and as a Great Place to Work.® In 2022 for the third consecutive year. For more information about Selective, visit www.Selective.com.
Source Select Insurance Group, Inc.