Driving with your dog in the car could cost you Dh23,000

Letting pets loose could levy a hefty fine.

Drivers in the UK could face a fine of £5,000 (Dh23,000 approx) for driving with pet dogs in the car's passenger seat. Although the law allows driving with your pet in the back, failing to buckle them in could even leave drivers with invalidated insurance.
Parents, especially, are advised to be cautious considering the school holidays as thousands of families venture out to enjoy the October weather. This means, even a short trip to the park will need extra attention as letting pets loose could levy a hefty fine.
According to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), unrestrained pets could cause accidents, near misses or emergency stops. While the law says driving with your pet in the back is perfectly acceptable, failing to buckle them in could cost you dearly. 
According to comparison website Confused.com, more than half of pet-owning drivers do not realise letting their pet loose in the car could also invalidate their insurance.
The website revealed that one in 10 drivers have had an accident while travelling in their car with a pet, while others know someone that has.
Citing an instance, the website stated that one driver reported their dog jumped out of the window when the car halted at traffic lights while another received a fine for letting their pooch climb to the front. 
According to rule 57 of the Highway Code: "When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly."
Disobeying the Highway Code could mean a fine of £1,000 on the spot for 'careless driving' and a maximum fine of £5,000 plus nine penalty points depending on the severity of it. In extreme cases, the incident could also result in a driving ban and a compulsory re-test, according to a report in Mirror.uk.
It is recommended to use a seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or guard to restrain pets while driving.