Does 5 Adults and 1 Child Count as Overloading?
2 Answers
Whether 5 adults and 1 child count as overloading depends on the situation. The judgment methods are as follows: 1. For vehicle models with a rated seating capacity of 6 or more, it does not count as overloading. 2. A sedan carrying 5 adults and 1 child counts as overloading. 3. Overcrowding does not have any regulations regarding the height, weight, or age of passengers. This means that as long as the individual meets the definition of a person, even an infant is considered a complete individual. For example, if a car is rated for 5 people, having one additional infant just one month old would still count as overcrowding. Introduction to overloading penalties: 1. The "Road Traffic Safety Law" stipulates that passenger vehicles exceeding the rated number of passengers will be fined between 200 and 500 yuan; if the number exceeds 20% of the rated capacity or if the vehicle carries cargo in violation of regulations, the fine will be between 500 and 2,000 yuan. 2. For freight motor vehicles exceeding the rated load capacity, the fine is between 200 and 500 yuan; if the load exceeds 30% of the rated capacity or if the vehicle carries passengers in violation of regulations, the fine will be between 500 and 2,000 yuan. 3. For the above two violations, the traffic management department of the public security authority will detain the vehicle until the illegal status is rectified. 4. If transport unit vehicles have the situations described in the first and second clauses and fail to correct after penalties, the directly responsible personnel will be fined between 2,000 and 5,000 yuan.
I have two kids and often take my family on road trips. The car is legally allowed to carry 5 people, including the driver. If there are 5 adults and one child, it's definitely overloading. A child also counts as one person, and the law strictly states that each seat can only accommodate one person, regardless of size. Last time, my friend's child hitched a ride, and they ended up getting fined and having points deducted. Safety-wise, it's even more dangerous—the child might not have a proper safety seat and could easily be thrown forward during sudden braking. Overloading also affects vehicle handling and accelerates tire wear. So, every time I go out, I carefully count heads to ensure no overloading. Getting a 7-seater is also a good idea.
