Dog sitting in Maeve carry box in back of the car seat

Crash-tested travel equipment for dogs and cats – What should you trust?

Lukuaika: 4 min

The dog has a seat belt harness on the back seat of the car. Proper safety equipment keeps the pet in place even during sudden braking. Many pet owners want to ensure that their beloved furry friend travels in the car as safely as people do. In practice, this means securing the pet either with a seat belt harness or placing it in a transport crate. Unfortunately, testing of pet travel safety is still inadequate: for example, in Finland and the EU, there are no official safety standards for pet safety equipment. Many harnesses, cages, and crates sold may be marketed as "safe" without proper testing, so it is difficult for consumers to know which products truly withstand collision situations. The industry has been described as a kind of "wild west" in terms of safety for a long time.

Fortunately, the situation is improving. In recent years, some manufacturers have proactively commissioned independent crash tests for their pet travel products, and for example in the United States, the Center for Pet Safety (CPS) and in Sweden, RISE have begun publishing test results. Several independent tests have shown that ordinary dog seat belt harnesses or flimsy plastic carriers do not withstand crash stresses – in the worst case, the pet can detach from the device and be propelled forward with force, posing a life-threatening risk to itself and passengers. For example, the crash weight of a dog weighing a few kilograms at 50 km/h can be up to 40 times its own weight. Without special design and testing, equipment may therefore not withstand a real accident situation.

An puppy sitting in a safe carrying box in back of the car seat

ECE R129 – the gold standard for pets derived from child car seats

Since official pet safety standards are lacking, the most advanced manufacturers have turned to child car seat standards. The latest UN regulation for child car seats is ECE R129 (also known as the “i-Size” standard). It is stricter than the previous ECE R44/04 standard (including side impact protection requirements) and has become a kind of “gold standard” for pet transport solutions as well. In recent years, some pet product manufacturers have begun testing their products according to ECE R129 requirements. For example, certain manufacturers of safety harnesses and carriers have calibrated their crash tests to this standard, meaning the product withstands sudden decelerations and loads as rigorously as a child car seat. When a product meets ECE R129 requirements, it is proven to endure the same conditions as child seats in a crash – providing additional safety for pet owners.

How does ECE R129 testing work?

ECE R129 standard tests utilize a vehicle crash test system and dynamic loading: the product is attached to the car and subjected to a sudden stop in a simulated collision. Tests use dog or cat model dummies of various sizes to simulate pets of different weights. The evaluation observes whether the dummy (i.e., the “pet”) remains securely in place in the harness or carrier and how much force is exerted on the pet and humans during the collision. ECE R129 requires that the device does not break or detach from its mounts in a crash, thereby better protecting the pet and keeping other passengers safe. Additionally, the standard demands effective side impact protection and non-toxic, fire-safe materials in the construction.

ISOFIX attachment is a key part of modern safety seat systems: it means that the safety device locks directly onto ISOFIX anchors in the car frame instead of using a separate seatbelt attachment. Many ECE R129-level pet carriers utilize ISOFIX attachments and often also top tether as an additional securing method. A high-quality, properly installed carrier remains in place during a crash and does not get thrown free – thus protecting both the pet and other passengers.

Additional safety for dog and cat owners

Crash-tested travel devices provide clear peace of mind for both dog and cat owners. When you select a product tested according to the ECE R129 standard, you can trust that it has undergone extremely demanding tests and passed them with distinction. Such equipment is designed to protect the pet – just like child safety seats – in severe crash situations. A crash-tested carrier or safety harness is more likely to remain intact and keep the pet securely in place, significantly reducing the risk of injury. At the same time, it prevents the pet from being thrown into the passenger compartment and causing additional hazards to people.

Summary: Although there are no official standards yet for pet safety devices, products crash-tested according to the ECE R129 standard currently represent the best available level of safety. Their structure and attachment system have been proven durable in real crash conditions. When you choose a crash-tested safety device for your dog or cat, you can reasonably trust that you have done everything possible for your pet's safety. It is an investment that, in the worst case, can save your pet's (and also humans') life.

Sources



TC0009AAMRL000 - Maeve ISO - Törmäystestattu lemmikin turvaistuin - Onyx - Muotitassu

Maeve ISO - Crash-tested pet safety seat

399 €