How is overloading a commercial vehicle by one person penalized?
2 Answers
Driving a commercial passenger vehicle exceeding the approved passenger capacity by more than 20% will result in a 12-point penalty; driving a commercial passenger vehicle exceeding the approved passenger capacity by less than 20%, or driving any other passenger vehicle exceeding the approved passenger capacity by more than 20%, will result in a 6-point penalty. The hazards of overloading are as follows: 1. Vehicle overloading severely damages road infrastructure: Due to the load of overloaded vehicles far exceeding the design capacity of roads and bridges, it leads to pavement damage, bridge fractures, and significantly shortens the service life. 2. Vehicle overloading: Increased mass leads to greater inertia, longer braking distances, and higher risks. If severely overloaded, it may cause tire blowouts, sudden deviation, brake failure, rollovers, and other accidents due to excessive tire load and deformation. Additionally, overloading affects the vehicle's steering performance, making it prone to steering failure and accidents. 3. Drivers operating overloaded vehicles: Often experience increased psychological burden and stress, leading to operational errors, affecting driving safety, and causing traffic accidents.
I've been driving commercial vehicles for over twenty years. Once, I had one extra passenger on board and got pulled over by traffic police for inspection. I was fined 500 yuan and had 6 points deducted from my license—I remember it clearly because the overload increased the vehicle's weight, significantly lengthening the braking distance and raising risks. Later, when the insurance company found out, they raised my premium by 20%. It really wasn't worth it. Carrying one extra person might seem minor, but safety is paramount. I advise everyone not to cut corners—make it a habit to count passengers regularly. If an accident happens, it's hard to shift responsibility, and it could even affect your livelihood.
