Munich  - Dogs and cats in a car should be kept in a secure pet box to avoid serious injury to the occupants of a vehicle and the death of the animal in an accident, Germany's automobile association ADAC warns.

Summing up the results of a crash test, the association said that a medium-sized dog weighing 20 kilogrammes develops an impact speed of half a ton, if the vehicle is involved in a crash at a speed of just 50 kilometres an hour.

Securing the dog to the rear seatbelt with a leash was ineffective with the dummy dog catapulting against the front seat at a massive impact, the ADAC said.

Small dogs and cats are best transported in a pet box positioned on the floor behind the front seat, the ADAC said. Fastening a dog to the rear seat with a strap to the left and right side of the body was only moderately effective.

Bigger dogs are best transported in the boot section of a station wagon inside a pet box with a mesh net dividing the rear from the passenger compartment. The box should be placed in such a way that the front section does not face the occupants in the vehicle. Dogs also feel more comfortable because the box gives them the feeling of being in a "protected cave", the ADAC said. (dpa)