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Distracting pets in cars

May 24, 2022 by PEMCO Insurance

According to the latest 2022 PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll, 77% of respondents in the PNW say unrestrained pets in the car pose a distraction to drivers. But 1 in 3 in three drivers/pet owners (34%) admit they let their pet sit on their lap or roam while driving. How about you? Do you let your pets free range in the car?

Do you have a dog or cat at home that ever rides in your vehicle while you’re driving?

Total Portland  
737 320 Drivers
34 35 I don’t have a dog or cat
23 24 I have a dog or cat, but I never let them ride in my vehicle
36 34 I have one or more dogs that ride in my vehicle at least occasionally
12 11 I have one or more cats that ride in my vehicle at least occasionally

Whether it’s your pet or someone else’s how often do you drive in your vehicle with an unrestrained pet?

Total Portland  
737 320 Drivers
14 16 Often
17 16 Sometimes
20 21 Rarely
50 47 Never

Whether it’s your pet or someone else’s how often do you drive in your vehicle with an unrestrained pet?

Portland  
2016 2016  
10 14 Often
16 15 Sometimes
15 18 Rarely
51 47 Never

Whether it’s your pet or someone else’s how often do you drive in your vehicle with an unrestrained pet?

Portland  
55+ 55+  
115 106 Drivers
10 17 Often
9 8 Sometimes
14 15 Rarely
68 59 Never

Whether it’s your pet or someone else’s how often do you drive in your vehicle with a restrained pet?

Total Portland  
737 320 Drivers
10 8 Often
17 17 Sometimes
24 27 Rarely
49 48 Never

Whether it’s your pet or someone else’s how often do you drive in your vehicle with a restrained pet?

Portland  
2016 2016  
7 6 Often
15 18 Sometimes
22 27 Rarely
55 49 Never

How often do you allow anyone’s pet to sit on your lap or roam around the vehicle while you’re driving?

Total Portland  
276 122 Drivers with cats or dogs
12 11 Often
22 20 Sometimes
28 26 Rarely
38 43 Never

How frequently do you notice other people driving a vehicle with unrestrained pets?

Total Portland  
737 320 Drivers
47 48 Often
36 38 Sometimes
9 8 Rarely
5 5 Never
3 1 Don't know

How frequently do you notice other people driving a vehicle with unrestrained pets?

Portland  
2016 2016  
40 35 Often
43 47 Sometimes
12 11 Rarely
5 5 Never
0 2 Don't know

How important is it for pets to be restrained and secured when they’re in a moving vehicle?

Total Portland  
737 320 Drivers
44 43 Very important
36 34 Somewhat important
15 16 Not too important
3 4 Not at all important
2 3 Don't know

In your opinion, how much of a distraction do unrestrained pets pose for the driver of a vehicle?

Total Portland  
737 320 Drivers
38 39 Unrestrained pets are a significant distraction
39 37 They are somewhat of a distraction
18 18 They are a distraction, but only rarely
4 5 They are never a distraction
1 1 Don't know

In general, thinking about for yourself as well as for others, do you think it’s more distracting when people drive a vehicle with children as passengers or pets as passengers?

Portland  
2016 2016  
30 40 Children are more distracting
45 35 Pets are more distracting
14 16 Neither
11 8 Don't know

Do you favor or oppose stricter rules for driving with an unrestrained pet (whether that is better enforcement of existing laws, creating news laws or citations with more costly penalties)?

Total Portland  
737 320 Drivers
22 21 Strongly favor
35 37 Somewhat favor
20 19 Somewhat oppose
13 12 Strongly oppose
10 11 Don't know

 

About the PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll

PEMCO Mutual Insurance commissioned this independent survey, conducted by FBK Research of Seattle, that asked Washington and Oregon residents questions about driving habits and attitudes toward current Northwest issues. The sample size, 420 respondents in the Seattle Metro (King, Snohomish, Pierce Counties) region and 418 respondents in the Portland Metro (Multnomah, Marion, Clackamas, Washington Counties) region yields an accuracy of +/- 5.0% respectively at the 95% confidence level. In other words, if this study were conducted 100 times, in 95 instances the data will not vary by more than the associated error range.

Supplemental interviews were conducted with people living in the Seattle metro area, including King, Snohomish and Pierce counties, and those in the Portland metro area, including Clackamas, Marion, Multnomah and Washington counties. The sample size, 578 respondents in the Seattle area and 509 in the Portland area, yields an accuracy of +/- 4.2% and +/- 4.4% respectively at the 95% confidence level.

About PEMCO Insurance

PEMCO Insurance is the Defender of Your Northwest, providing auto, home, renters and boat coverage. We are consistently recognized for outstanding service, employee expertise and social impact. Our Mutual Good programs raise the achievement levels for youth in education; build stronger, greener environments; and increase safety at home, on the road and at play. Our mission: Free our communities to worry less and live more.

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