Is a Five-Seater Car with 5 Adults and 1 Baby Considered Overloading?
2 Answers
A five-seater private car carrying five people plus holding a baby is considered overloading. Here is extended information about the hazards of vehicle overloading: 1. Shortens the vehicle's service life: Vehicles are manufactured based on technical specifications, including load limits. Overloading alters the original design parameters, leading to issues such as loose rivets, detached fastening screws, broken weld points, and deformation of the overall frame. Overloading reduces the vehicle's lifespan and accelerates the aging of rubber and plastic components. 2. Accelerates tire wear and deformation: Vehicle tires are designed and produced based on the total weight of the vehicle, with a considerable safety margin. However, when a vehicle is overloaded, the tires bear excessive weight, causing deformation. Increased friction also shortens tire life. Tests show that a 20% overload reduces tire life by 30%, while a 40% overload cuts tire life by half. 3. Reduces braking performance and increases non-safe distance: Many factors affect a vehicle's braking distance, with vehicle load being a direct influence. During braking, the load shifts forward, increasing the load on the front wheels and decreasing it on the rear wheels. This alters ground adhesion and consequently the braking distance. A fully loaded vehicle decelerates slower than an empty one. Tests indicate that for a heavy vehicle over 3 tons traveling at 30 km/h, each additional ton of weight extends the braking distance by 0.5-1.0 meters. Overloaded vehicles, due to increased inertia, have even longer braking distances. The extended non-safe distance often creates unexpected psychological pressure on the driver, leading to accidents.
Of course it counts as overloading! Last year when I took my family on a road trip, I encountered this situation. I thought since the baby was so small it wouldn't count, but I got pulled over by traffic police and received a ticket. A 5-seater car has a capacity of 5 people, and the baby also occupies a seat because overloading is calculated by headcount. It's not just about the fine - what's more dangerous is that it affects braking distance and vehicle stability. In case of an accident, squeezing one extra person in the back seat increases the impact force during collision. I've seen some cases where overloaded vehicles rolled over with tragic consequences. Now when our family goes out, we strictly calculate the seating capacity - either switch to a bigger vehicle or travel in separate batches. Putting safety first is never wrong.