Do Children Count as Overloading in a Car?
2 Answers
Children are also considered in cases of overloading. The regulations and penalties for vehicle overloading are as follows: Regulations for vehicle overloading: A vehicle is considered overloaded when it exceeds the designated passenger capacity, regardless of whether the passengers are adults or children. For safety, it is essential to adhere to the designated capacity requirements and not assume that more children can be accommodated because they are small. When children are passengers, they must be seated in dedicated child seats installed in the rear and securely fastened with seat belts. Penalties for vehicle overloading: For passenger vehicles carrying more people than the approved capacity but less than 20% over, 3 demerit points will be deducted; for exceeding 20%, 6 demerit points will be deducted. For private cars with a capacity of 5 people, the count is based on the number of heads, regardless of whether they are adults or children.
I've witnessed several accidents firsthand because an extra child wasn't counted when the car was crowded, resulting in brake failure. Strictly speaking, children absolutely count when a vehicle is overloaded. Every vehicle has weight and seating limits - although children are small, they still occupy a seat and affect vehicle stability. Especially during turns or emergency braking, the shifted center of gravity makes rollovers or collisions more likely. Regulations require all children to use safety seats, and exceeding passenger limits is illegal. I often remind friends not to overload for convenience - safety comes first, don't gamble with lives. Remember, regardless of a child's size, following the rules is the only way to ensure a safe journey.
