Photo: Twitter / Kent Police RPU
Police officers in Kent, U.K., are turning a reckless driver into an example of what not to do on the road – and they’re doing so with plenty of humor, even though the message is very serious.
A 32-year-old man was pulled over for tailgating and speeding, while carrying an unrestrained dog in his lap. Traveling with unrestrained pets is against the law in most territories, but the Brits take it very seriously: it is an offense that can carry a maximum fine of 5,000 pounds (approximately $6,100). At this rate, investing in a carrier or a puppy seatbelt extension is a much wiser investment.
According to Kent Police Road Safety Team, the incident happened last week, when the driver of a Volkswagen van was observed speeding and tailgating on the M20 London-bound, Yahoo UK reports. He was pulled over and officers were shocked to notice a white dog in his lap. The photo attached to this article was snapped right after police pulled the car over.
“You'd have to be completely barking to let your dog sit on your lap when driving on the M20, but to do it at 90mph whilst tailgating other motorists and trying to hound them out of your way is crazy,” the unit says on the official Twitter page.
Chief Inspector Rhiannan Pepper, head of roads policing at Kent Police, says that the 32-year-old man was issued a notice for reckless driving, which entails a fine if he’s found guilty or the obligation to complete a driver training course.
“Motorists who speed and drive too close to the vehicle in front do not give themselves enough time to react if that vehicle brakes suddenly, drastically increasing the chances of there being a serious or fatal collision,” Inspector Pepper adds. “Doing so while having an animal on your lap is even more dangerous, making it more likely that you will lose concentration and make a mistake.”
He says that all pet owners must travel with their pets properly restrained in a carrier, crate or a proper harness. This way, all motorists on the road and the pets themselves are safe in case of an accident.
According to Kent Police Road Safety Team, the incident happened last week, when the driver of a Volkswagen van was observed speeding and tailgating on the M20 London-bound, Yahoo UK reports. He was pulled over and officers were shocked to notice a white dog in his lap. The photo attached to this article was snapped right after police pulled the car over.
“You'd have to be completely barking to let your dog sit on your lap when driving on the M20, but to do it at 90mph whilst tailgating other motorists and trying to hound them out of your way is crazy,” the unit says on the official Twitter page.
Chief Inspector Rhiannan Pepper, head of roads policing at Kent Police, says that the 32-year-old man was issued a notice for reckless driving, which entails a fine if he’s found guilty or the obligation to complete a driver training course.
“Motorists who speed and drive too close to the vehicle in front do not give themselves enough time to react if that vehicle brakes suddenly, drastically increasing the chances of there being a serious or fatal collision,” Inspector Pepper adds. “Doing so while having an animal on your lap is even more dangerous, making it more likely that you will lose concentration and make a mistake.”
He says that all pet owners must travel with their pets properly restrained in a carrier, crate or a proper harness. This way, all motorists on the road and the pets themselves are safe in case of an accident.
You'd have to be completely barking to let your dog sit on your lap when driving on the #M20. But to do it at 90mph whilst tailgating other motorists & trying to hound them out of your way is crazy. Drivers stated he had a ruff day and his collar was suitably felt by the #RST SW pic.twitter.com/gu4YQoKh7t
— Kent Police RPU (@kentpoliceroads) July 21, 2019
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