"Drove Far Away to Avoid Accidents"... Holding a Pet Dog While 'Riskily' Handling the Steering Wheel Is Clearly Illegal

An Explicitly Illegal Act Under Current Law

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[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Office worker Park Mo (29) witnessed a shocking situation while driving in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, at the end of last month. The driver in the adjacent lane was driving while holding a dog. Feeling uneasy about this sight, he eventually slowed down and kept a safe distance while driving. Park said, "It looked like a small dog, similar to a Maltese, but driving while holding it in my arms did not seem appropriate," adding, "I was also worried that it might suddenly jump out of the window."

With 15 million pet owners living with their companion animals, it is not uncommon to see people driving while holding their pets. However, in such cases, if the pet behaves unpredictably or jumps out of the window, it can lead to traffic accidents. Especially during the summer vacation season, when pets cannot be left alone at home and long-distance travel together is necessary, awareness of traffic safety is crucial.

Under current law, driving while holding a pet is strictly illegal. Article 39, Paragraph 5 of the Road Traffic Act stipulates that all vehicle drivers must not operate the vehicle or drive in a state that may interfere with safety, such as holding infants or animals or placing objects around the driver's seat. Violators may be fined 50,000 KRW for vans and 40,000 KRW for passenger cars. However, the number of violations of Article 39, Paragraph 5 of the Road Traffic Act has been increasing every year. According to the National Police Agency, the number of cases rose from 357 in 2017 to 406 in 2018, and then to 801 and 1,594 in 2019 and last year, respectively. Since 2019, the number has roughly doubled each year compared to the previous year. When pets ride in vehicles, they sometimes stick their heads out of the window, which should also be avoided as it can lead to sudden situations such as jumping out of the window. Additionally, during summer, the temperature inside the car rises significantly, so leaving pets alone in the vehicle, which makes it difficult for them to regulate their body temperature, should be avoided.

Professor Kim Pil-su of the Department of Automotive Studies at Daelim University said, "Animals can react instantly when riding in a car, and if they suddenly move while being held during driving, it can cause a major accident," adding, "If they stick their heads out of the vehicle and suddenly jump onto the road, it can also cause serious accidents. If pets are allowed to roam freely inside the vehicle during driving, the risk of accidents increases, so a dedicated safety device should be prepared to secure them there."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.