Does a 5-seater car count children as passengers?
2 Answers
The number of passengers in a vehicle is calculated by headcount, so children are also counted as passengers. More detailed information is as follows: 1. If it is a 5-seater car, carrying five adults plus one child is considered overloading. If caught by traffic police, you will be fined and have 3 points deducted. 2. Many people think that traffic police only check overloaded trucks and not family cars. In fact, traffic police also check whether family cars are overloaded, and it is very simple to check. Overloading is dangerous as it increases the vehicle's braking distance, which can endanger lives in emergencies.
I remember when taking the whole family on a trip, the car was said to have a seating capacity of five, which included me, my wife, our two kids, plus one relative's child. Safety is the key. The seating capacity of a car is calculated based on seatbelt design, and each position must have someone properly buckled up. Children may weigh less but take up space. In case of sudden braking or turning, the unaccounted risks can be significant. Once, I was pulled over by the police for overloading on the road. They lectured me for a long time and fined me. Overloading affects braking distance and stability, making it prone to losing control. Car manufacturers consider all passengers when designing vehicles—children count the same as adults in terms of numbers. Never overlook this. Safety always comes first. Leave an extra seat just in case.
