Does a car with 5 adults and 1 child count as overloading?
3 Answers
It counts as overloading. The traffic law stipulates that the permitted number of passengers is based on the number indicated on the vehicle's registration certificate. Below is relevant information about the hazards of overloading: Hazards: Research has found that when a vehicle's axle load exceeds the standard load by one time, driving on the road once is equivalent to a standard vehicle driving on asphalt pavement 256 times or on concrete pavement 65,536 times. Moreover, the larger the vehicle's permitted load capacity, the more severe the damage to the road caused by overloading. The maximum single rear axle load detected in China reaches 24 tons. When such a vehicle drives on a concrete road once, it is equivalent to a standard vehicle driving 1.21 million times. Negative impacts: Overloading has caused significant harm to the healthy development of the transportation market. Overloading leads to market chaos, completely disrupting the basic pricing system of the transportation market. Under normal circumstances, transportation pricing is based on the volume and weight of the cargo. It's all about bargaining, charging by the whole vehicle. Overloaded vehicles severely pollute the atmospheric environment.
I think this issue is particularly important. As someone who often drives family members out for fun, I must emphasize the traffic regulations. The approved passenger capacity for small passenger vehicles is clearly stated on the vehicle registration certificate, usually 5 people—this includes the driver and all passengers. Whether adults or children, even an infant, as long as they are living beings, each counts as one seat. Legally, size doesn't matter because overloading increases accident risks, such as instability during emergency braking. I've checked the traffic laws: overloading results in at least 3 penalty points and a fine of several hundred yuan, and it may even affect insurance claims. In case of an accident, the insurance company might refuse compensation. Safety comes first when driving. When traveling with children, it's best to control the number of passengers—don't risk the whole family's safety for temporary convenience.
As a car owner with over a decade of driving experience, I firmly believe that overloading should never compromise safety. Having five adults plus one child crammed into a five-seater significantly increases weight and noticeably extends braking distance – I've personally experienced this when carrying extra passengers in the past, nearly rear-ending another vehicle during rainy conditions. Overloaded vehicles handle poorly, becoming prone to losing control during turns, especially with unsecured children bouncing around like marbles. Experimental data shows that 20% overloading doubles accident rates and accelerates tire wear. Therefore, even for young children, never risk overloading – either switch to a vehicle with proper capacity or make multiple trips to ensure stable driving conditions.
