G. Matthew
If the dog is sitting in a backward facing jump seat and the collision is something like head-on, then the dog will be pressed into the back of the seat for the initial impact.  This seems like a lot better situation than being launched off the back seat.  Our dog often travels in a plastic kennel that is either in the hatch area with sleeping bags, overnight bags etc. or on the floor behind the passenger seat.
George
'85 Westfalia