Travelling with a dog these holidays? How to safely restrain your dog

 According to RSPCA, 19 percent of dog owners take their pets with them on holiday. Considering a study found that almost half of Aussies now own at least one dog, that’s a lot of dogs in cars.

However, cars are built for the safety of humans, not pets.

So if the car breaks and your dog isn’t restrained properly, it could become a 20kg projectile. In fact, 5,000 dogs each year are either injured or killed as a result of jumping from a moving car. 

In most states it’s illegal to drive with an animal on your lap, as they can distract you from driving. It’s also against the law in Australia to carry a load that’s not fastened, such as dogs on the back of a ute. So, what are the options for safely travelling with Bluey?

Safely restraining dogs in cars

Safely restraining your dog in the car depends on the size of your dog and the make of your car. 

Dog seat belt or safety harness

You may already have a harness for your dog. Dog safety harnesses work by slipping over the dog’s head, under the front legs and attaching to the back piece on the sides of its body. The anchor attaches the harness to the seat belt attachment.

The dog should be able to sit and lie down comfortably while wearing the safety harness in the car.

NRMA revealed that only two harnesses on the market passed their test, adequately restraining their crash test dummy dog. Purina Roadie harness and the Sleepypod Clickit harness passed out of the 25 tested. That’s because their webbing and buckles were stronger than the others. 

Dog transport crates

Dog crates can be made of hard plastic, metal or fabric with supports. Make sure the crate is large enough for your dog to lie down, stand, turn around and stretch. Your dog may feel anxious in the crate, so adding its favourite toy may help. The crate needs to be fixed to the car using the seat belt. If you have a ute, bolting the crate to the tray may be the safest way to go.

Cargo barriers

Station wagons and 4WD vehicles can get custom-made steel mesh bolted to the rear seat floor and up to the car’s ceiling, sectioning off the space behind the seats. This provides a separate section in the vehicle for your luggage or pet. But, if the space is too large, securing your dog with a harness could also help avoid an injury.

If you’re looking for a new car big enough for your best friend, get in touch with Private Fleet. We can discuss your needs and find the right car for you.

Top 5 safety tips for driving this Easter Long Weekend

Planning a road trip this Easter long weekend? You’re not alone. With the four day weekend coinciding with the school holidays in most states, it’s a busy time of year to travel. 

But, it’s also one of our deadliest. Last year in NSW alone, there were 7 fatalities recorded from Thursday to Easter Monday, and more than 4,500 drivers were hit with fines. An estimated 4 million Aussies travelled by air and road around the country. So, how can you stay safe on the road?

Stay alert while driving this Easter Long Weekend

1. Plan to avoid the traffic

The Easter break starts this year on the 9th of April, which is Good Friday, and runs until Monday, 10th of April. However, many travellers choose to begin their break on Thursday in a bid to beat the traffic.

While leaving the day before should be quieter on the roads, don’t make the mistake of leaving straight from work.

2. Check your car is safe

Your tyres legally must have at least 1.4mm tread depth. Incorrect tyre pressure can speed up tyre wear, so before your big trip, check your wheels. Lift the bonnet and check the oil level doesn’t need topping up and walk around the car to check the lights and blinkers work.

Fill up the tank the day before you depart and check the windscreen washer bottle and coolant is full. 

3. Stop revive survive

Plan your route with places you’d like to stop for a break. The highway may be the most direct route. But, often the time passes quicker when you plan the trip on smaller roads and through small towns. 

Every two hours, take a break from concentration and stretch your legs. If you need to stop and there isn’t a town, perhaps look out for one of the many Driver Reviver spots.

4. Put your phone away

If you’re using the GPS on your phone, make sure the phone is secured in a commercially designed holder fixed to the car. It’s against the law to touch the phone once you start driving, so enter your final destination before pulling away from the curb.

5. Store your luggage securely

Loose items can become hazardous projectiles if you brake too suddenly. If you’re carrying items on top of the car, regularly stop to check the straps are holding the items securely. Even dogs can be secured with a specially designed dog seat belt. 

If you’re thinking of purchasing a reliable car to get around the country, get in touch with us. We can discuss your needs and find the right car for you.

9 Ways to Save on Car Insurance

You’ve found the car you want, and you’re ready to close the deal – except for one thing – you’re concerned about insurance costs.

We can hardly blame you. Amid the pandemic and all, insurance premiums have leapt over recent years. Not to worry though, here are 9 tips to save on your insurance.

1. Nominate the right drivers on the policy

Adding a more experienced, secondary driver can lower the cost of your premium, provided that driver has a no-claims history and good rating. Younger drivers however, are viewed as an insurance liability. While some niche insurers can offer them better options, generally their inclusion raises prices.

2. Use an insurer that meets your needs

Whether you: drive low kilometres; own a vintage car; are a young driver; or live in a certain region – no one insurer suits all. Some operate: on a kilometre basis; specialising in classic cars; by pricing better for certain locations; or by offering discounts to those restricting under 25’s from driving.

3. Research

Before renewing or switching policy, shop around – comparison sites such as iSelect or Compare the Market offer easy comparisons. With loyalty bonuses no longer as common as before, and ratings transfers more widespread, it’s easier to change providers and save hundreds. Failing that, ask about promotions or for a better deal! Though do be wary of any promotion’s duration – premiums often increase thereafter.

4. Pay up front and bundle insurance products

Paying the policy in full will save you money compared with monthly instalments, however, be wary of any surcharges for card payments. Some insurers offer lower premiums when bundling insurance products (multiple cars, home and contents, bike, boat, etc.)

5. Consider your coverage

If you own a newer car, comprehensive is more fitting whereas older cars are more suited to third-party property or third-party fire and theft insurance. Increasing your excess or omitting coverage for items covered elsewhere can reduce your premium. Furthermore, insuring your vehicle prior to purchase, and ensuring coverage does not lapse, will place you in good stead. Items stolen from a car generally aren’t covered, while some extras (roadside assistance) can be sourced externally.

6. Alter the car’s value

Depending on the insurer, adjusting the policy to a lower (agreed) value can help. Market value is typically based on the insurer’s findings, so if you need to dispute this appraisal, source your own quotes and provide good maintenance records.

7. Maintain a clean driving history

Your insurance rating determines the premium you pay – some insurers have a no-claims discount, but incidents drive up prices – even if the car was driven by a friend, and potentially if you weren’t at fault. Some insurers may wave the first at-fault incident but this is rare.

8. Maintain accurate details

While some may be tempted to omit details on past claims or change info on the car’s storage, should a claim arise, insurers generally probe further into your details and you risk forfeiting all your coverage – don’t do it!

9. Read the policy

Not only do exclusions between insurers vary (unroadworthy/modified vehicles; non-covered drivers; incidents involving drugs/alcohol; etc.) but there are considerable differences in coverage to consider. That might include a higher excess for drivers returning from having their license suspended, or even excluding cover altogether.

What The Person With The Caravan Wishes You Knew

Summer is the time of year when you’ll see a lot of people out on the road going to their favourite holiday destinations – or making the journey the holiday. Some of them have caravans behind them. Others have similar large trailer-type things behind them, such as horse trailers or even furniture trailers (which don’t have to contain furniture – they can carry all the camping equipment, the bikes, the kayaks and so forth). We won’t consider trucks in this article, as they’re a different story altogether.

It’s easy to get frustrated when you barrel along the road without anything attached to your towbar and see a caravan on the road ahead of you, getting gradually closer and closer (as you travel at the legal speed limit, of course). You may grit your teeth and start scanning the road ahead, looking for an opportunity to overtake. Why do they do it? Why do caravans go so slowly? Are they that heavy? And why don’t they just pull over and let people pass as soon as a line starts forming?

Well, I’m going to answer your questions. As you may have guessed, I have sometimes been that person with the caravan, and I can tell you exactly what’s going through the mind of a driver with a caravan. Believe me, we’re not going slow on purpose and holding everyone up just for the sadistic pleasure of annoying people.

Why Caravans Are Slow

There are several reasons why the person towing a caravan goes more slowly than you do. In other countries, the speed at which you can tow anything, including a caravan, is different from the maximum speed limit (usually lower, of course). However, that’s not the case in any of the states of Australia, where a caravan can be towed at the full legal limit, as long as the driver can do so safely.

And there’s the point of it: as long as they can do it safely. Because they’ve got that extra thing on the back, their car handles differently when it comes to corners and things like that. Strong winds can also affect how a caravan sits on the road, meaning that a driver towing a caravan may have to slow down when you don’t have to. What’s more, even a modern caravan has quite a bit of drag, which puts a lot of extra demand on the engine – even the most powerful engine. Nobody really wants to wring the guts out of the engine all the time, as this makes even the most frugal car into a thirsty beast. This means that the caravan has to go slower than you do, especially when going into a headwind and/or uphill.

In the case of horse trailers, the driver has to make sure that he/she drives smoothly without anything sudden. Horses are sensitive creatures, and travelling in a trailer is something that they hate. Anything surprising or startling will freak them out, and there’s a risk that they could hurt themselves in that confined metal box. This is why the drivers of horse trailers often go a little bit slower. They definitely don’t want you to honk your horn. Seriously – don’t do it.

Why Don’t They Pull Over?

While you’re looking at the back of the caravan and wondering why the heck the driver won’t just darn well pull over and let you pass, said driver is probably scanning the side of the road. You see, a caravan driver can’t pull over just anywhere. They have to look for a place that allows enough space for their vehicle and their caravan without taking out any of the “road furniture” (signs, markers, barriers, etc.) or any vegetation. They also don’t want to drive onto anything that they can’t get out of again, such as ditches or boggy patches. What a vehicle (and the associated caravan) can get into and out of will depend on said vehicle and whether or not it’s got 4×4 capacity.

A good place to pull over has to be a good place not just for the caravan driver but also for you. It’s no good if the caravan driver pulls over just short of a blind corner where you can’t see what’s on the road ahead (we’re not talking about lay-bys, passing bays and slow vehicle lanes here; they’re another story).

In short, it can take a while for the driver of the caravan to find the right place to pull over that’s good for both of you. It won’t happen the instant that you appear. The driver won’t start looking for a good place until you appear in his/her rear vision mirror.

If you are the caravan driver, make sure that you do look out for a good spot to pull over and let others pass to avoid a long snake of traffic building up behind you.

When You Overtake A Caravan

OK, so the driver of the caravan has found a place to pull over and now you can overtake. This driver may or may not have come to a complete standstill. Sometimes, the driver of the caravan will stop completely, especially if the road is winding and a lot of traffic has gone past. However, sometimes, the caravan driver will crawl along half on and half off the road, especially in the case of a long straight. Now is your chance to pass. You can also get a chance to pass if the road has a passing lane.

When your chance comes, here are some things that the driver of the caravan would like you to know:

• If the road ahead is clear for, say, 500 metres, then please go ahead and pass as soon as you can. Don’t leave it until the last 100 metres to make your manoeuvre. This doesn’t happen, you say? Well, it happened more times than I cared to count last time we were out with the caravan behind. I or whoever was driving edged over when the long empty straight came, but did that car that had been tailgating overtake straight away? Nope – he/she waited until the last possible moment to do it safely and then overtook. Nuts!
• Use your indicators, from when you start your manoeuvre until you’re back on the proper side of the road and ready to roar away.
• Make sure you actually do overtake, especially if you have been behind the caravan for ages.
• Use all the usual safety precautions when overtaking, like checking you have a clear view of the road.
• Don’t make rude hand gestures or angry honks at the caravan driver. He/she can’t help being slower thanks to the factors mentioned above.
• Feel free to wave and/or give a “thank you” honk!