Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to give cats the same protections as dogs under the Road Traffic Act1988.

The Government has no plans to give cats the same protection as dogs under the Road Traffic Act 1988. A focus for this Government is to make roads safer for all users, which will in turn reduce the risk to all animals.

Under section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, a driver is required to stop and report an accident involving specified animals including horses, cattle, asses, mules, sheep, pigs, goats or dogs, but not cats or wild animals. This requirement arises from their status as working animals rather than as domestic pets. To introduce such a measure within the provision of section 170, would require primary legislation.