Letting your dog sit on your lap while driving is never a good idea

We’ll file this query from Warrior reader J.J. under that category:

“I know that a driver holding a dog on his lap is a nine on the stupid scale (having the dog actually do the driving would make it a 10). But what is the actual law on that practice?”

Not a stupid question, J.J., and sadly, all of us have seen maneuvers on city streets seemingly made by canine drivers. And some of us even have seen dogs on motorists’ laps that we would prefer taking the wheel.

The reason this isn’t a stupid question is that the answer is somewhat surprising: There’s no law that says you can’t have a dog in your lap when you drive.

But before you decide to let Bowser take you for a spin, know that there are broader ordinances in Clark County and Southern Nevada’s municipalities that essentially prohibit motorists from driving with pets on their laps.

Trooper Loy Hixson of the Nevada Highway Patrol said police officers can cite motorists for negligent driving, imprudent driving or failure to pay full attention to driving for any number of distractions.

The reason is obvious. A quick stop, and suddenly Princess is on the floor, right where the accelerator and the brake pedal live. While the motorist is struggling to recover, the dog is scrambling at his or her feet, a potentially deadly situation.

Hixson said the ordinances on ill-advised driving habits go beyond just pets in a motorist’s lap.

Officers can make traffic stops if they believe a driver is impaired by applying makeup or ChapStick, fiddling with the radio dial or eating and drinking — which provides a whole new meaning for the term “dining car.”

The obvious solution is not doing these things at the same time a motorist is driving.

As for traveling with dogs, there’s no cruelty to animals for stowing a pet in a kennel or pet carrier when traveling, ideally one that is properly strapped to the seat with a harness or seat belt.

Although dogs seem to delight in sticking their heads out the window, it’s safer for everybody in the car if they’re secured.

And that goes for dogs in beds of pickups. One unfortunate swerve or misstep, and Fido can go airborne like he’s chasing a Frisbee.

If a dog is really man’s best friend, he’ll thank you for keeping him safe.

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

Warrior reader Mike can’t get enough of those orange cones on U.S. Highway 95 at Ann Road and Durango Drive:

“I live near U.S. 95 and Durango. Do you know when the work on the highway from Ann to Durango is scheduled to be completed and when the big project at the Las Vegas Beltway and U.S. 95 is scheduled to begin? Is there anywhere I can follow the progress or get updates on these projects?”

Good news, Mike — or bad news, I suppose, if you don’t like construction-related traffic delays.

The current project is going to be finished in late September or early October, and the next one is going to start in August. It’s one big project with multiple phases, as the Nevada Department of Transportation’s Tony Illia explained to me.

“NDOT plans on finishing a $35.7 million, 4-mile-long widening of U.S. Highway 95 between Ann Road and Durango Drive by late September or early October,” Illia said. “The project builds another general travel lane in each direction while also adding new carpool and auxiliary lanes. Other work includes sound walls, lighting and signage as well as landscaping and drainage improvements.

“Meanwhile, the department will break ground on a $39.2 million U.S. 95 to Las Vegas Beltway interchange in August. Construction calls for building northbound and southbound U.S. 95 connection ramps to the eastbound and westbound Beltway, respectively. U.S. 95 will be widened in both directions between Ann Road and the Beltway ramp entrances and exits. A southbound collector distributor road also will be added. And like its predecessor, it, too, will add new lighting, signage and landscaping and storm drainage. Construction is scheduled to finish in 2017.”

The department offers updates on its website at nevadadot.com. Click on the tab titled “U.S. 95 Northwest Corridor Improvements Project.”

HEAVY TRAFFIC

It’s graduation time, so that means you can count on heavy traffic on the streets surrounding the Thomas & Mack Center and the Orleans Arena.

Those are the largest venues for commencement exercises, so you can count on additional vehicles on Tropicana Avenue, Paradise Road and Swenson Street near the Thomas & Mack and along Tropicana at Cameron and Arville streets and Decatur Boulevard near The Orleans every day this week, before and after ceremonies that start at 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m.

There is a more detailed list of times at ccsd.net/students/graduation-schedule/.

PROJECT NEON MEETING

If you have questions about Project Neon, the multibillion-dollar Spaghetti Bowl megaproject slated to ramp up next year, you might want to attend an open-house-style public meeting on the project from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Historic Las Vegas Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St.

A presentation is scheduled at 5:30 p.m., and there will be free parking at the corner lot at Fourth Street and East Stewart Avenue.

Maps, displays and discussions are planned for the program to overhaul the state’s busiest highway intersection, U.S. Highway 95 and Interstate 15.

Questions and comments should be sent to roadwarrior@reviewjournal.com. Please include your phone number. Follow the Road Warrior on Twitter @RJroadwarrior.