Is a car with one adult and five children considered overloaded?
2 Answers
A car with one adult and five children is considered overloaded. Traffic regulations stipulate the following for overloading: driving an operational passenger vehicle (excluding buses) or a school bus with passengers exceeding the approved number by less than 20%, or driving other passenger vehicles with passengers exceeding the approved number by more than 20%, will result in a one-time deduction of 6 points. Below are the relevant provisions: 1. Article 92 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law" states that if a road passenger vehicle carries more passengers than the approved number, a fine of 200 to 500 yuan shall be imposed; if the number exceeds 20% of the approved number or if goods are carried in violation of regulations, a fine of 500 to 2,000 yuan shall be imposed. 2. If a freight motor vehicle exceeds the approved load capacity, a fine of 200 to 500 yuan shall be imposed; if the load exceeds 30% of the approved capacity or if passengers are carried in violation of regulations, a fine of 500 to 2,000 yuan shall be imposed. For the above two violations, the traffic management department of the public security organ shall detain the motor vehicle until the illegal status is rectified. 3. If a transport unit's vehicle falls under the circumstances described in the first or second paragraph of this article and fails to rectify after punishment, the directly responsible person in charge shall be fined 2,000 to 5,000 yuan.
I often drive my family out and have done a lot of research. According to traffic regulations, overloading is calculated by headcount, regardless of whether it's adults or children. A standard sedan is approved to carry 5 passengers, so 1 adult with 5 children makes 6 people, which is clearly over 20% overload. This is no small matter—overloading increases braking distance and makes the vehicle prone to rollovers in emergencies. If caught by traffic police, it results in an immediate 3-point deduction and a 200-yuan fine. In fact, the vehicle's weight limit includes everyone's weight. Although children are lighter, they occupy seats, and stuffing kids in the trunk is even more dangerous. It's recommended to use an extra car or make multiple trips—don't take chances.
