Does having an extra child in the car count as overloading?
2 Answers
Having an extra child in the car counts as overloading. Here is relevant information: 1. The traffic regulations regarding "overcrowding" do not specify the height, weight, or age of passengers, but only the "number." Therefore, in a car with a capacity of 5 people, an additional child (even an infant held in a parent's arms) constitutes overloading. 2. According to regulations, overloading a car will result in a penalty of 3 demerit points and a fine of 200 yuan. Moreover, if the number of overloaded passengers increases, the demerit points will also rise. In fact, the demerit points and fines are not the most important issue; the key concern is that overloading makes the interior space extremely cramped, affecting the driver's operation and significantly increasing the likelihood of traffic accidents.
As someone who frequently drives my kids to school, I must emphasize that having even one extra child absolutely counts as overloading, and this is no trivial matter. Every additional person in the car, even an infant, doubles the safety risks. During traffic checks, officers count heads, including all children—exceeding the permitted seating capacity is illegal and can result in on-the-spot fines, penalty points, and even affect insurance claims. My neighbor crammed six kids into the back seat last week, got caught on camera, was fined 500 yuan, and saw their car insurance premiums rise—definitely not worth it. Remember, every bit of added weight makes braking less responsive, especially in rainy conditions where skidding becomes a risk, endangering everyone in the vehicle. I urge everyone to check the permitted passenger capacity on their vehicle registration before setting off—don’t trade convenience for safety. This is a lesson learned the hard way.
