It was mid-January on the A2 motorway in Germany. A lorry was approaching the Kamen junction near Dortmund when the driver, who had a rather heavy foot, ignored the speed limit. A costly mistake. Suddenly, a bright red light flashed – the speed camera had been triggered.
What at first seemed like a routine traffic violation turned into something of a curiosity for the Dortmund police when they examined the photo.
A furry passenger
When the officers saw the photo, they couldn't believe their eyes. The lorry driver, from the German town of Kleve, was only travelling about 4 mph over the speed limit. But he wasn't alone.
On the dashboard, right behind the windscreen, another pair of eyes was staring at the camera lens. They belonged to... a cat!
A serious warning
The cat was sitting calmly beside the driver, seemingly watching the road with just as much concentration. Clearly, the two of them were an inseparable team.
The Dortmund police decided to share the unique snapshot on Facebook, where it was an instant hit. It quickly went viral, racking up over 11,200 likes and 3,300 comments. While people online adored the furry co-pilot, the police found the situation far less amusing.
Behind this adorable picture, however, lies a serious danger.
The police issued a warning to all pet owners: in the event of sudden braking or a collision, an unrestrained pet can become a “deadly projectile”. This poses a mortal danger to both the animal and the driver.
And that's without even considering the risk of distraction. “Anyone who has a cat knows how much attention these faithful little companions can demand,” the officers wrote in their post. These words sound as if they come straight from personal experience.
For the driver from Kleve, this souvenir photo will come at a high price. On top of the speeding fine, he faces an additional €35 penalty for the unsecured “load” on his dashboard.
The police finished their post with a piece of advice for all animal lovers: always secure your pets in carriers or with special harnesses. Or, better yet, leave them safe and comfortable at home.
