Does having children in the car count as overloading?

[SanAngelina]

Children in the car do count as overloading. Overloading is calculated based on headcount. As long as the number of passengers exceeds the limit, even if it's a child or an infant being held in arms, it's considered overloading. For driving an operational passenger vehicle or a passenger car with overload (but less than 20%), or a truck with overload (but less than 30%), 3 demerit points will be deducted. For a truck overloaded by more than 30% or carrying passengers illegally, or a passenger car (other than operational passenger vehicles) overloaded by more than 20%, 6 demerit points will be deducted. For school buses or passenger buses, if there is serious overloading or serious speeding, regardless of whether an accident occurs, once discovered by traffic police or captured by cameras, it constitutes a crime.

[Albert]

As a parent who frequently drives a family car, I know that having children in the car definitely counts as overloading. Every time I take my kids and friends on outings, I have to count the number of seats carefully. The law states that the vehicle's rated capacity is based on the number of heads, including infants and young children. For example, if a 5-seater car carries 6 people, regardless of the children's ages, it counts as overloading. Last year, I took my kids on a trip to the countryside and got pulled over and fined for overloading—what's worse is the high risk of accidents. The smaller the child, the more they need seat belts and car seats, and overcrowding leads to more severe injuries in a collision. The safety advice is to plan ahead and not try to save money by squeezing in. Check the vehicle manual for the rated capacity, and if necessary, switch to a larger vehicle or travel in separate groups.

[LaDeclan]

Having driven a taxi for over a decade, the most common issue I encounter is passengers exceeding the seating capacity with children. Children are fully counted towards overloading, and vehicles have strict seating limits—for example, a 4-seater can only accommodate four people, including kids. I always remind customers not to exceed the headcount as soon as they board to avoid violations. Overloading fines can cost hundreds per ticket and also incur demerit points. From a safety perspective, an extra person disrupts weight balance, and unsecured children are at higher risk of being thrown from the vehicle. Traffic rules apply equally and fairly—age doesn’t exempt anyone from the count. I make a habit of monitoring passenger loads carefully and avoiding peak hours. Child safety seats are non-negotiable—never compromise on them.

[VonPeyton]

Last time when we were squeezed in dad's car with siblings, he warned about overloading because everyone counts. Children in the car are treated equally, not counted less just because they're small. Police count heads during checks, including toddlers. A common misconception is that holding a child is okay, but it's actually dangerous. My school's safety education emphasizes one seat per person to reduce risks. Crowding worsens injuries during accidents, with insufficient seatbelt protection. Before traveling, confirm the number of seats and arrange properly.