Allowing a pet to ride unrestrained in a car can be distracting—just as dangerous as texting while driving. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, looking away from the road for as briefly as two seconds doubles your risk of getting into a crash. Using your hands to restrain, feed, or play with your pet significantly increases the likelihood of an accident.

In a 2016 survey by AAA, more than half of dog owners admitted to never or rarely using a pet-restraint device in the car—and to petting their dog while driving. Respondents gave the common excuse that their pet didn’t need a restraint device, especially for a short trip. That’s dangerous thinking.

Distracted driving can lead to an accident. And a dog frightened by a collision can jump out of an open car window, increasing the animal’s risk of injury and endangering other passengers. A dog looking out of the car can accidentally trigger the window’s power controls, trapping a leg or paw in the process.

The state of New Jersey imposes hefty fines—up to $1,000—on drivers caught transporting unrestrained pets in their vehicles. Hawaii has a law against pets sitting in the driver’s lap, and 14 states have laws against leaving pets unattended in vehicles.

There Are Easy Solutions

When it comes to your pet safely traveling in the car, you don’t have to re-invent the wheel. There are well-established steps to take. Follow these guidelines:

Before planning an extended road trip with your pet, get the animal used to riding in a car with shorter trips around town.

If you are using a crate to restrain a cat or dog, check the crate’s crash test rating. Look for a reinforced aluminum or plastic crate that is well ventilated to keep the animal comfortable. The safest place for an animal crate is in the vehicle’s cargo area. Use tie-downs to secure the crate so it can’t shift if the driver has to make an emergency stop.

An animal can also wear a harness but the harness needs to tie into the vehicle’s seat-belt system. For example, the best impact harnesses secure around the dog’s chest and back and also ties into the seat belts. The harnesses come in different sizes to ensure a proper fit.

A booster seat that ties into the seatbelt system raises your dog for an unrestricted view outside, keeping him or her calmer while the car is in motion.

As with small children, dogs and cats will be safer sitting in the second row of a car rather than in the front.

Make sure that the area the pet is riding in is comfortable and well ventilated. A protective blanket will not only keep your dog more comfortable but protect the upholstery as well. A vehicle with vents in the back of the center console, the ceiling, or B-pillars will do a better job of circulating air around the back of the vehicle.

Some pet experts suggest turning off the vehicle’s power windows, to prevent a pet from accidentally pushing the windows up button and getting trapped.

While human beings are accustomed to traveling long distances in a car without a break, dogs and cats need routine breaks so your animal can get out of the vehicle, stretch its legs, drink some water, and relieve itself. Finally, don’t forget to bring some pet toys to make the trip more enjoyable for your canine passengers.