We are told not to drive while intoxicated, talking on a cell phone, doing makeup (not me personally), shaving, preparing our taxes and a myriad of other dangerously distracting activities, but it appears another culprit, a much furrier one, is causing drivers to take their eyes off the road…Fido.

A survey conducted by the good folks at AAA along with pet travel product maker Kurgo, reveals that nearly two-thirds of drivers admit to engaging in distracting activities with their dogs while driving.

Thirty-one percent of respondents admit to being distracted by their dog while driving; however 59 percent have participated in at least one distracting behavior while driving with their dog. More than half (55 percent) have pet their dog while driving, and one in five allowed their dog to sit in their lap (21 percent). Other distracting behaviors drivers admitted to include giving food and water to their dog (seven percent) and playing with their dog (five percent). These behaviors can distract the driver and increase the risk of a crash. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that looking away from the road for only two seconds doubles your risk of being in a crash.

The vast majority of respondents, 80 percent, stated that their four legged companions have accompanied them on a variety of car trips including local errands, leisure trips, the pet store, dog parks and to work. Unfortunately though, only 17 percent claimed to have utilized a pet restraining system to prevent their dogs from freely moving around the vehicle.

"Restraining your pet when driving can not only help protect your pet, but you and other passengers in your vehicle as well," explained Beth Mosher, AAA Director of Public Affairs. "An unrestrained 10-pound dog in a crash at 50 mph will exert roughly 500 pounds of pressure, while an unrestrained 80-pound dog in a crash at only 30 mph will exert 2,400 pounds of pressure. Imagine the devastation that can cause to your pet and anyone in the vehicle in its path."

Remember, friends don’t let friends drive under the influence, so please visit your local pet store and find a reasonably priced—yet effective—pet restraining system prior to your next car trip with your beloved Rover.

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Photo Credit: PRNewsFoto/AAA, Elizabeth A. Coughlin