cats

I also used to let my cat hide in the back seat until someone reminded me that if the vehicle has to stop suddenly or is involved in a collision, the cat could go flying. It's much safer for them and for you for them to be in a carrier, and the carrier buckled in, or at least wedged in somewhere.

Shit answer.

You cannot control where a loose animal will go in a car. I've dealt with car crashes with dead pets.

And pets are absolutely a driver's distraction.

Fuck off with any driver that allows unsecured pets in their cars.