Irish drivers warned over little-known car rule before travelling with pets for summer holidays
IRISH drivers have been warned over a little-known car rule before families head off on summer holidays.
Motorists are being reminded of their legal responsibility to properly restrain dogs when travelling in their
1
Dogs must be properly restrained in Irish cars
Credit: Alamy
This rule exists to reduce driver distraction and to protect both the
The
If involved in an accident or forced to brake suddenly, an unsecured pet could suffer injuries or cause harm to others inside the car.
And road safety bosses said that appropriate restraint systems must be used to secure pets while
READ MORE IN MOTORS
For medium and large dogs, a safety harness that connects directly to the seat belt is considered the safest and most effective restraint.
Small dogs can be transported in a pet carrier, which should be secured with a seat belt or placed on the floor behind a front seat.
And dog guards can be installed in hatchbacks and estate cars to keep your pets confined to the rear section of
When using the boot space, the RSA said it is important to place a rubber mat on the floor to give the dog better grip while the car is in motion.
MOST READ IN MOTORS
Even if a dog is wearing a harness, it should not sit in the front seat as the cars airbags could result in serious injury.
Along with using restraints, the RSA advises drivers to plan for their dogs to take regular breaks on long journeys.
I'm an Irish driving instructor and here is why your friends are failing the test
Dogs should also not be left alone in a car, particularly during warm weather, as temperatures can become dangerous in a matter of minutes.
Drivers who fail to comply with these requirements may face significant fines and penalty points.
Speaking of the warning, Rhydian Jones,
'It's not just about avoiding fines; it's about ensuring the safety of everyone in the vehicle, including your dog.
'Investing in proper restraints is a small price to pay compared to the potential consequences.'
Meanwhile, as the weather gets warmer, drivers are being urged to check their sunglasses' rating when behind the wheel.
Sunglasses have ratings which range from 0 to 4 - with category 4 shades labelled as being 'not suitable for
The most heavily tinted sunglasses should not be worn while driving day or night as they only transmit between 3 per cent to 8 per cent of light, according to
Lenses considered unsuitable for night
A spokesperson for
'Sunglasses with category 3 lenses are best for daytime driving conditions — any higher is considered too dark to drive
'For low light and night-time driving when sunglasses are not suitable, our UltraClear SuperClean lenses help to reduce reflections (such as from signage and street lights) experienced while driving.
'There are also lens treatments you can add to sunglasses and prescription glasses to enhance your comfort and help improve your driving vision.
'These range from polarising lenses to tints that help to improve contrast perception.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
I'm an Irish driving instructor and here's what happens when you hit the kerb during your test
AN Irish driving instructor has revealed what happens if your car hits the kerb during the test. This common mistake happens more often than you may think. 3 @Vistadrivingschool is a popular Irish driving instructor on TikTok Credit: Social Media Collect 3 And he shared what happens if you hit the kerb during your test Credit: Social Media Collect @Vistadrivingschool is a popular Irish driving instructor on And he shared with his followers what happens if you hit the kerb on the day of your test. The He said: "If you hit the kerb when you are doing the reverse around the corner or the turnabout during your Irish driving test this is a fail. READ MORE IN MOTORS "That's something I hear a lot and it is definitely a myth so let's break it down why it's not true." And he revealed that if your car lightly touches the kerb you will be given a minor fault or a grade two mark. This is because it indicates a lapse in vehicle control or observation, but not one that poses an immediate danger. A light kerb contact shows that the driver has misjudged their positioning, but since it doesn't normally endanger pedestrians or other vehicles it's not serious enough to warrant a grade 3. MOST READ IN MOTORS He said: "If you simply tap the kerb when you are doing your reverse around the corner or your turnabout that should not be a fail. "You will most likely get a minor fault or a grade two, depending on how hard you hit it or if you scuffed it or just clipped it simply. Gardai and RSA measures aimed at driving crash deaths on Irish roads "But if it's a light tap or a light bump off the kerb it should not be marked as a fail." However, if hitting the kerb were forceful enough to cause the vehicle to mount it or result in a loss of control, it could be considered more serious. And the He added: "Now don't get me wrong you can fail the driving test during the reverse around the corner or the turnabout due to hitting the kerb super super hard. "Or if you mount it or possibly hit it when there's a pedestrian near it." Driving test tip This comes after another TikToker has shared the @Next_level_driving_school on TikTok shares useful tips and tricks on their page. Faded L plates could give your driving instructor a reason to cancel your test, and you may lose out on the money. He said: "Probably better off not turning up to your test with the L plate being faded like this because your test might not go ahead and it will be a waste of €85. "So make sure your L plates are in good condition. They're not faded so that the tester doesn't have the chance to not go out on the test with you." 3 Hitting the kerb usually doesn't land drivers a fail Credit: Social Media Collect
Irish Independent
9 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Kerry tourism would face a hit if car rental sector is forced to make EV switch
With the EU Commission said to be considering introducing mandatory electric vehicle quotas for corporate fleets ahead of the 2035 deadline, it means rental car companies would need to switch to electric before then. Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú believes this will create a shortage in rental cars that will hurt tourism in places like Kerry resulting in lost jobs for coastal communities. She added that it would create a knock-on impact for rural parts where tourists visit because they are able to readily avail of affordable rental cars. 'That is something I cannot stand over,' Ms Ní Mhurchú said, adding that she is 100 per cent in favour of electric vehicles but this is akin to putting the 'cart before the horse'. Ms Ní Mhurchú said 'forcing' car rental companies to go electric before Ireland has the necessary infrastructure in place will damage rural tourism by making rental cars more expensive and less available. She explained how the industry could not cope with such a burden and it would ultimately lead to less rental cars at a higher price. 'Irish tourism depends heavily on the car rental sector. Rental cars allow tourists to travel to remote parts of Ireland, where there isn't the necessary charging infrastructure. Tourists would be dependent on public charging points, and we just don't have enough in rural and remote parts of Ireland, as things stand,' she said. At a Kerry County Council meeting in March, the precarious situation surrounding EVs and charging points was discussed – a situation that is already having a negative impact on tourism. At that Tarbert Island Ferry Terminal – the gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way in North Kerry – there is no EV charger between Tarbert and Ballyheigue, a distance of almost 70km. In raising the issue, Fine Gael Councillor Mike Foley stated that Killimer Ferry Terminal in County Clare has a 47kW EV 'fast charger' available, yet none are available for nearly 70 kilometres in North Kerry. He said one has to travel a further 18 kilometres to avail of a charger in Tralee, which Cllr Foley said is not ideal for tourism along the Wild Atlantic Way corridor. The Car Rental Council of Ireland state there are higher maintenance costs associated with electric vehicles. The average cost of renting an electric car is currently 33 per cent higher than the average cost of renting a traditional car in Ireland.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Major delay warning for Irish drivers following ‘multi vehicle collision' and breakdown of ‘heavy goods vehicle'
DRIVERS on Irish roads have been warned to expect delays this morning following multiple incidents in separate areas. The first incident is a multi Advertisement 3 A multi vehicle crash happened in Naas Credit: tii 3 There were multiple incidents reported this morning Credit: tii The crash occurred on the M7.N7 eastbound between J9 Naas (North) and J8 Johnstown (Johnstown). Lane one and two has been affected. And traffic bosses posted an update on Posting on Advertisement READ MORE ON MOTORS Drivers were told that delays will occur and that they should consider a different route. But they should be warned that alternative routes can also become congested due to the heavy volume of diverted traffic. "When approaching the collision location, drive with caution, reduce your speed and obey instructions from emergency services." Advertisement Most read in Motors Elsewhere in the country, road users have been warned of delays on a busy motorway. The M1 is a continuation of the busy M50 motorway and connects parts of New sign on traffic lights confuses drivers with officials forced to clarify rule – it was all down to the color This morning, the thousands of commuters who use the Traffic bosses reported the breakdown of a heavy goods vehicle at the roundabout at junction two. Advertisement Lane two is affected. They said: "When approaching the breakdown location, reduce your speed and drive with caution. "Minor delays to your journey may occur." CLEAN UP But the rest of the road is clearer than usual this morning following the clear up of two earlier incidents. Advertisement Hours ago, a vehicle breakdown was reported on the M1 near Junction Two at Lane two was affected by the incident. And in a separate location, there was debris on the road causing delays to traffic. This occurred on the red M50 southbound slip to N7. Advertisement Both incidents have been cleared up, leaving the motorway mostly quiet and with mo major delays. There are no reports of major incidents on roads elsewhere in the country. 3 A heavy goods vehicle broke down in Dublin Credit: tii
