Today marks the beginning of Road Safety Week and vets are urging pet owners to be aware of the dangers that traffic can pose to our four-legged friends.

The UK’s largest veterinary charity, People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), has offered its top tips on how to keep your beloved animals away from dangers on the roads.

Reflective collars

With shorter daylight hours, cats may be more likely to be out and about in the dark.

Reflective collars can make it easier for drivers to spot pets when they’re exploring near roads, just make sure it’s a quick release type collar so they can’t get caught up anywhere.

PDSA Vet, Lynne James, said:“Before you do anything else, make sure you have pet insurance in place.

"If the worst happens and your furry family member is involved in a road accident, pet insurance will help to cover the cost of veterinary treatment for their injures.

"It’s a good idea to help keep your cat safe by keeping them indoors at night and only letting them out during daylight hours.

"In this instance, try feeding your cat as it begins to get dark, they should get used to the schedule and return home for food before nightfall."

Leads

When walking your dog at night by roads, the best way you can make sure your pooch is safe is to keep them on a short, strong lead attached to a well-fitting collar.

Lynne said: "If you’re going to take them off the lead to have a run-around, check that the area is safely secured with fences or railings so they can’t run onto any nearby roads."

Commands

Speaking about commands Lynne said: "While you won’t be able to teach your canine companion to look left and right, you can use simple commands to help keep them safe by busy roads.

"When approaching a road with your dog on a lead, ask them to sit and wait.

"Once your dog has sat calmly and you’re happy it’s clear, give the command to walk and cross the road together carefully."

Visibility

While it’s always better to walk dogs in daylight, at this time of year it isn’t always possible, so when walking your four-legged friend during darker hours, you should make sure drivers can see both of you.

Lynne explained: "You could wear bright coloured clothing or even a high visibility jacket to help them spot you.

"For your furry friend, you can use a high visibility dog coat or an LED collar or tag to help them stand out along roads.”

To find LED collars and other pet accessories you can visit the PDSA’s online store here, every purchase helps the charity care for more pets in need.

To read more about Kent’s furry, flying and finned friends, click here.

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