Does carrying extra children in a car count as overloading?
2 Answers
Having an extra child in the car counts as overloading. Traffic laws stipulate that vehicle overloading is determined by the number of passengers, not by weight or size. Therefore, even a child is counted as one person, and a vehicle exceeding its passenger limit with one extra child will be considered overloaded. Below are some precautions regarding children in cars: 1. Regardless of where passengers sit in the car, they must always wear seat belts. 2. It is recommended to use a child safety seat for children in private cars. A child safety seat is a seat installed in the car seat for children, equipped with restraints to ensure the child's safety in the event of a collision. Additional information: Motor vehicles must not carry more than the approved number of passengers, and passenger vehicles must not carry cargo in violation of regulations. Vehicle owners are advised to take this seriously and not to take chances when traveling, ignoring the dangers of overloading.
This is a topic I frequently encounter, especially when seeing parents taking their kids out. According to traffic regulations, the approved passenger capacity of a car refers to the total number of seats, and each passenger, whether adult or child, must have a dedicated seat. So, if your car is approved for 5 people but carries 6 children or an extra child, this clearly counts as overloading. With over a decade of driving experience, I remind everyone that safety comes first: children may be lightweight, and not occupying a seat might seem harmless, but the actual risks are enormous. Vehicle designs, including seat distribution, airbags, and braking systems, all operate under fixed load conditions. Overloading makes the car harder to control and increases braking distance; in case of an accident, children are more likely to be thrown out or crushed. If caught by police, it's not just fines and points—insurance may also refuse to cover the damages. I recommend checking the manual for the approved capacity before heading out, using child safety seats properly, and not taking risks—safety is infinitely more important than convenience.
