Does having an extra child in the car count as overloading?
2 Answers
Having an extra child in the car counts as overloading. According to traffic laws, vehicle overloading is determined by the number of passengers, not by weight or size. Therefore, even a child is counted as one person, and exceeding the permitted number of passengers by adding one child naturally qualifies as overloading. Below are the regulations based on the new traffic rules: 1. Driving a passenger vehicle (excluding buses) or school bus with more passengers than the permitted number but less than 20% over the limit will result in a 3-point penalty; 2. Driving a passenger vehicle (excluding buses) or school bus with more passengers than the permitted number but less than 20% over the limit, or driving any other passenger vehicle with more than 20% over the permitted number of passengers, will result in a 6-point penalty.
As someone who often drives friends around, I have to say that overloading is really important—every passenger counts, no matter how small. Having an extra child in the car does count as overloading because regulations state that the vehicle's rated passenger capacity includes all occupants, regardless of age—children also take up a seat. Overloading increases the risk of rollovers or collision injuries. I’ve personally seen a friend get pulled over and fined for overloading with a child, plus points deducted—it’s just not worth it. Even worse, insurance might not cover accident damages. I always check the vehicle manual or the rated capacity label on the door frame to ensure I don’t exceed the limit. My advice? Take the extra time to split rides—don’t risk a disaster for temporary convenience. Safe driving isn’t just for you; it’s for every little life in the car.
