Highway Code: new penalties for abandoning animals in the street

If the abandonment of an animal in the street causes a fatal accident, what does the code provide for?

In this case, there is an extension of the penalties for road homicide and the offence of grievous bodily harm. If the owner of an animal abandons an animal that subsequently causes a fatal accident, or has caused grievous or very grievous bodily harm, in this case I recall that the penalties range from two to seven years' imprisonment for road homicide and from three months to three years' imprisonment for grievous or very grievous bodily harm.

What are the rules for properly transporting animals by car?

Of course, travelling with our animal friends is a pleasure, but it can also have risks for road traffic, as the animal can move around inside the passenger compartment interfering with driving activities and thus also causing driver inattention. The Highway Code provides for two different ways of transporting animals depending on the number of specimens carried on board. In the case of transporting a single specimen, the choice is left to the discretion of the driver, who may choose any mode of transport, provided, however, that it does not interfere with his driving activity. In particular, this choice must be based on the tonnage of the animal, also in relation to the size of the passenger compartment. If, on the other hand, several specimens are transported, they must be placed in special cages or carriers or on the rear seats of the car, separated by a special net. In this case, these means of separation must pass the approval of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

What should we do if we encounter an abandoned animal on the street?

First of all, the first thing to do is to find out whether it is an abandoned, lost or simply a wandering animal, if this can be deduced from its behaviour. If it has no clear direction or seems disoriented, it is plausible that it is an abandoned or lost animal. If we have the possibility because of the size of the animal, if it is a domesticated, tame animal, we can also try to approach it to see if we can find tags to trace it back to its owner. If not, we must then use the emergency numbers and then call the local police, who are responsible for finding animals. Or if it is an animal abandoned in particular areas such as the motorway or railway tracks or nearby, it is advisable to call the traffic police directly in the case of abandonment on the motorway or the railway police in the case of abandonment by the tracks. Of course, if the animal is injured, veterinary assistance should also be called.