The majority of UK drivers would break the law if they hit a dog with their vehicle, shocking new research from animal welfare charity Blue Cross reveals.
The study showed a staggering 86% of motorists would not call the police if they injured a dog and no owner was in sight – with that number rising to 91% in young drivers aged 18 to 24.
Under UK Law, a driver who hits a dog must stop and report the accident to the police – however, the same legal requirement does not apply if a cat is involved.
The research comes as the charity teams up with TV star Jess Wright and her Yorkshire Terrier ‘bestie’ Bella to launch the Blue Cross Code, ahead of the clocks going back this weekend.
In a nod to the famous Green Cross Code of the 1970s, the Blue Cross Code is a new safety initiative encouraging drivers and pet owners to be more alert to risks on the road this winter.
It is estimated that 80,000 dogs [1] and 230,000 cats hit by a car on UK roads every year.
As part of the study, drivers were asked how they would react in a series of scenarios, including what they would do if they hit a dog or cat with their vehicle.
More than half (54%) of drivers said they would stop their vehicle and take the wounded dog to a vet while 16% said they would knock on nearby homes to find the dog’s owner.
Despite acting in good faith, most drivers would be breaking the law by not calling the police at the roadside, which is what just 14% of motorists said they would do.
Some 16% of drivers admitted they would prioritise their journey over the wellbeing of the stricken animal. Alarmingly, this rises to more than a third (35%) of young drivers.
Six per cent of young motorists admitted they’d simply continue with their journey despite hitting a dog while 20% said they would drive on ‘if the dog seemed okay’.
One in 10 young drivers admitted they would ‘move the stricken animal to the side of the road’ before continuing their journey.
When asked about hitting a cat with their car, a quarter of drivers (27%) said they would prioritise their journey if they were convinced the animal was dead.
If the accident was at night, most drivers (30%) would knock at local houses to find the dead cat’s owner while a quarter (25%) would take it to home, then to a vet the next day.
And, a third (35%) of motorists do not routinely check under their car for cats before driving at night. The worst offenders are 55-64-year-olds, of whom only half (51%) check before travelling.
This comes despite more than half (58%) of cat owners worrying more about their pet when it is dark, and yet two-fifths (39%) make no changes to their pet’s routine after the clocks go back.
Of the 2,000 UK animal-lovers polled, a quarter of cat owners said they have had a pet that has been killed or injured by a car, with 13% saying there has been at least one ‘close shave’.
Blue Cross is today launching its new Blue Cross Code in a bid to encourage drivers and pet owners to be more aware of the dangers on the road, and what to do if the worst happens.
Jess Wright said: “I love Bella so much. She is 12 now and she was my baby for so many years before I had my little boy Presley and she still sleeps on my bed every night. I can’t bear to think of her being injured in a road accident.
“That’s why I’m 100% behind the Blue Cross Code and you should be too. I want drivers and pet owners to be extra vigilant of the dangers on the road, especially as the clocks go back and the nights get longer, making it harder to see animals on the road.”
Blue Cross Chief Vet Dr Paul Manktelow said: “There are few things more upsetting for a vet than those awful occasions when someone brings in an animal that has been hit by a car.
“Vets see up close the anguish and upset caused by road accidents – so anything we can do to prevent more misery must be a priority.
“The Blue Cross Code is about making owners and drivers think more about their actions and the preventative measures they can take to help keep our dogs or cats safe.
“As the clocks go back and those longer, darker winter nights draw in, the safety of all road users is something everyone should consider before they or their four-legged friend leaves the house.
“So let’s all follow the code’s three simple rules of Paws, Prevent and Protect – and hopefully we’ll have no heartbreaks this winter.”
