While everyone’s concerned about people texting or talking on a cell phone while driving, I’ve never once heard anyone mention the safety issues around driving with a live animal on your lap.

I’m not disputing the dangers of texting while driving. Things can happen quickly, and if you’re looking at your phone at the wrong second, it can change your life forever.

But in Seattle, where people have more dogs than children, seeing drivers with pets in their lap is not an unusual site. (And if I had to guess, I’d say many of these people are the same ones making noise about the dangers of driving while talking on the phone.)

Anything can happen with a live animal in your lap. If something spooks them, or they get in the drivers face or even decide it’s time to go.

I’m a fan of consistency. If we’re going to make a bunch of rules for people, let’s not cherry-pick based on the biggest and noisest lobby.