Do children count as passengers in private car overloading?

[DelKiara]

Children do count as passengers in private car overloading. Overloading occurs whenever the number of passengers exceeds the vehicle's rated capacity. Child overloading can be more severe than adult overloading in certain aspects, as infants lack any self-protection capability. When a car travels at 50 km/h, a 10 kg baby can generate an impact force exceeding 400 kg, with the force increasing proportionally with speed. Most family cars are either 5-seater or 7-seater models. In cases of overloading, the vehicle's handling performance deteriorates and the risk factor rises significantly. Should an accident occur due to overloading, insurance companies have grounds to deny claims. According to new traffic regulations: Driving passenger vehicles (excluding commercial buses and school buses) with passenger numbers exceeding the rated capacity by less than 20% will result in a 3-point penalty.