Protecting passengers with the latest and greatest safety features is something that every automaker strives to achieve. Subaru, which has been widely recognized as providing some of the safest vehicles on the market, has now turned its attention to protecting man's best friend.
The manufacturer is now funding research at the Center for Pet Safety, which will focus on crash tests that evaluate the risks to animals in accidents, Automotive News reported. Dog-shaped dummies are being used in the simulations to see just how dangerous these crashes can be.
There are currently no standards for pet safety, despite the numerous regulations that exist for human safety and even the process of receiving car repair that stems from accidents. If this research makes some headway, however, rules about pet travel could soon be more prevalent.
"We'd like to see something developed over time, but it's not really our job," Dave Sullivan, a manager at Subaru of America, told the news source. "We're trying to do our best to raise the issue."
AutoBlog reported that, of the tests conducted so far, none revealed a harness or tether strong enough to protect a dog. Not only is this harmful for the animal, but it can also be extremely dangerous for any people in the car.