Who Moved My Bone?

Edmunds.com and Bark Buckle Up have teamed up to come up with a list of the safest vehicles to transport your 4-legged friends in.

I would venture to say that people do not often think about the dangers associated with transporting their pets. Left unrestrained, if you were to get in an accident, your pet could become a deadly projectile. Regardless of what type of car or truck you drive the first and most important aspect of safe pet transportation is restraint. Bark Buckle Up estimates that at 35mph your 60lb dog can create 2700lbs of force upon impact. So while having a car that has good crash test ratings and all of the new safety features is definitely a good thing do not overlook the most basic of safety precautions like wearing your seatbelt…whether you have two or four legs.

1. Dodge Journey

http://www.edmunds.com/dodge/journey/review.html

To ensure the safety of drivers, passengers and pets, all gear must be secure when driving, and the Journey offers in-floor storage bins that elegantly achieve this objective. Sadly, many pets are injured by drivers who unknowingly run them over while reversing — the Journey offers a rear-view camera that helps drivers avoid this tragedy. Other available features include an in-dash cooler that can be used to store beverages, medicine or pet food; an LED rechargeable flashlight; and steering-wheel mounted controls (useful in lessening driver distraction).

2. Ford Flex

http://www.edmunds.com/ford/flex/review.html

Larger dogs and their crates will be comfortable in the roomy Flex; the crossover offers ample legroom and wide door openings for easy ingress and egress. Other pluses include a refrigerated console and 5-star crash test scores.

3. GMC Acadia

http://www.edmunds.com/gmc/acadia/review.html

Tri-zone climate control is available in the Acadia. This feature is important in SUVs, stations wagon and minivans; it helps monitor temperature in the rear of the vehicle, thus ensuring that pets secured in back aren’t exposed to extreme heat. The Acadia also offers a direct link to poison control via its OnStar feature (many animals are injured each year from ingesting potential pet poisons like antifreeze, chocolate and tea), along with rear fold-flat seats that accommodate travel for larger pets and their crates.

4. Hyundai Tucson

http://www.edmunds.com/hyundai/tucson/review.html

Turn to the Tucson for pet-safe available features like automatic climate control and fold-flat rear seats. This Hyundai also offers remote keyless entry (helpful if your hands are full managing a dog on a leash) as well as privacy glass that helps keep temperatures cool in back.

5. Jeep Liberty

http://www.edmunds.com/jeep/liberty/review.html

The Jeep brand offers specialized pet travel gear, including crates, carriers and a ramp. The ramp is useful for larger dogs, as well as older and/or arthritic pets. This gear may be used with the Liberty and all vehicles in the Jeep lineup. Other useful Liberty features include a splint-folding rear seat and available keyless entry.

6. Kia Borrego

http://www.edmunds.com/kia/borrego/review.html

Full-length side curtain airbags with rollover sensors can keep both pets and their owners safe, and they’re offered in the Borrego. The SUV also offers a back-up warning system and rear camera display.

7. Mazda 5

http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/mazda5/review.html

Three words: sliding rear doors! The Mazda 5 offers easy-access dual sliding rear doors with a one-touch walk-in feature. These doors simplify pet access, and make it a breeze to secure them. The minivan is also notable for having earned 5-star crash test scores and for having side curtain air bags in all three rows. Its low cargo floor facilitates easy pet access. The Mazda 5 also has tethers and anchors in both the second and third rows helpful since pet safety seats need to be secured in the same way as a child’s.

8. Mitsubishi Outlander

http://www.edmunds.com/mitsubishi/outlander/review.html

Side airbags, 5-star crash test ratings and steering-wheel-mounted auxiliary controls are all part of the Outlander’s arsenal of available offerings. The SUV also boasts fold-flat seating and stowable third-row seats (both these features increase the amount of room available for larger pets), as well as more than a dozen storage compartments for your gear and your pet’s.

9. Subaru Tribeca

http://www.edmunds.com/subaru/tribeca/review.html

Pet owners will appreciate the Tribeca’s 5-star crash test scores, steering-wheel-mounted auxiliary controls and rear backup camera.

10. Volvo XC70

http://www.edmunds.com/volvo/xc70/review.html

The XC70 is available with a Volvo-designed pet barrier. This is not a one-size-fits-all system with suction cups and Velcro this is the real deal. Many pet barrier systems are not designed to remain in place during an accident; this system crash-tested by Volvo has been created to remain intact in a collision. The barrier may be installed by the dealer, and is bolted securely into the vehicle. Another great feature is the XC70′s blind spot warning system. A pet in back can sometimes impede visibility as a result, any safety feature that helps with blind spots is a big plus.

Please check out Bark Buckle Up website. They have lots of good information about transporting your pet safely as well as some interesting statistics.

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