Fat car share damaged wife's car?
Discussion
This one is so simple.
First of all, the overweight person, if she is similar in build/size to the image that you posted, will not have damaged the car's suspension. Seeing as half of Northern Britain is that shape and you don't see their old Modeos and Vectras collapsed in the gutter it is safe to say that cars can easily handle this weight.
It is possible that the seat will be affected by the larger than average mass over time but again they are built to tollerate Westerners who are mostly over weight to obese.
The near side suspension usually wears more as it gets much more battering because of curbside road degradation. Also, because we drive in the left then left turns are tighter than right which arguably loads things up more.
So forget about the wear and tear on the car. Firstly you can't prove it and secondly absolutely no one is going to be able to help you push that argument.
If your wife raises this with HR or anyone then it needs to be over an issue that can be resolved and it also has to done in a way that gives both your wife and HR a get out of jail cars from the risk of not just offending someone but the decency of avoiding upsetting someone. We are English and therefor civilised and smart enough to be polite in how we solve the issue.
The simple solution for everyone involved is for HR to be made aware by a concerned relative that some car sharers are not wearing seatbelts. This then places an obligation on the company to round Robin all car sharers about this and say that the company expects staff commuting with staff to follow the letter of the law etc.
At this point, your wife and her friend know they have an issue and they both go to HR to request HR give them a solution to this problem.
That way you haven't put your wife in a difficult work situation and you have not upset anyone deliberately but you have resolved the issue of having an unsecured passenger putting your wife in danger.
First of all, the overweight person, if she is similar in build/size to the image that you posted, will not have damaged the car's suspension. Seeing as half of Northern Britain is that shape and you don't see their old Modeos and Vectras collapsed in the gutter it is safe to say that cars can easily handle this weight.
It is possible that the seat will be affected by the larger than average mass over time but again they are built to tollerate Westerners who are mostly over weight to obese.
The near side suspension usually wears more as it gets much more battering because of curbside road degradation. Also, because we drive in the left then left turns are tighter than right which arguably loads things up more.
So forget about the wear and tear on the car. Firstly you can't prove it and secondly absolutely no one is going to be able to help you push that argument.
If your wife raises this with HR or anyone then it needs to be over an issue that can be resolved and it also has to done in a way that gives both your wife and HR a get out of jail cars from the risk of not just offending someone but the decency of avoiding upsetting someone. We are English and therefor civilised and smart enough to be polite in how we solve the issue.
The simple solution for everyone involved is for HR to be made aware by a concerned relative that some car sharers are not wearing seatbelts. This then places an obligation on the company to round Robin all car sharers about this and say that the company expects staff commuting with staff to follow the letter of the law etc.
At this point, your wife and her friend know they have an issue and they both go to HR to request HR give them a solution to this problem.
That way you haven't put your wife in a difficult work situation and you have not upset anyone deliberately but you have resolved the issue of having an unsecured passenger putting your wife in danger.
Given that the OP's wife is being "paid" for participating in the car share, with reward of a parking space, could that not be classed as driving for reward, and as such not covered by her insurance? Tenuous excuse at best I know, but could be another avenue to approach. But the seatbelt thing would do it for me, I'd tell HR that I wasn't willing to have a passenger in my car who can't secure themselves sufficiently.
I've checked the passenger seat position and it is as far back as it can go (and if anything a bit further than it was designed to go).
Apparently part of the problem with the belt is that she is too wide to sit square on unless she has the window right down. In the current climate my wife has the a/c on and the windows up. The car sharer prefers this anyway as she suffers in the heat and has hot flushes.
The result is that she has to sit twisted around in the seat, thus increasing the surface area that needs restraining.
Those seat belt extensions look like a good solution, and is something she could keep in her handbag for whenever the need arises.
Apparently part of the problem with the belt is that she is too wide to sit square on unless she has the window right down. In the current climate my wife has the a/c on and the windows up. The car sharer prefers this anyway as she suffers in the heat and has hot flushes.
The result is that she has to sit twisted around in the seat, thus increasing the surface area that needs restraining.
Those seat belt extensions look like a good solution, and is something she could keep in her handbag for whenever the need arises.
RDJ said:
I've checked the passenger seat position and it is as far back as it can go (and if anything a bit further than it was designed to go).
Apparently part of the problem with the belt is that she is too wide to sit square on unless she has the window right down. In the current climate my wife has the a/c on and the windows up. The car sharer prefers this anyway as she suffers in the heat and has hot flushes.
The result is that she has to sit twisted around in the seat, thus increasing the surface area that needs restraining.
Those seat belt extensions look like a good solution, and is something she could keep in her handbag for whenever the need arises.
Forgive me if i'm wrong, but she must be massive if (even twisited) the seat belt cant reach. I'm not exactly petite, but can easily move forward to get something in the passenger side or glove box whilst restrained. Apparently part of the problem with the belt is that she is too wide to sit square on unless she has the window right down. In the current climate my wife has the a/c on and the windows up. The car sharer prefers this anyway as she suffers in the heat and has hot flushes.
The result is that she has to sit twisted around in the seat, thus increasing the surface area that needs restraining.
Those seat belt extensions look like a good solution, and is something she could keep in her handbag for whenever the need arises.
RDJ said:
I've checked the passenger seat position and it is as far back as it can go (and if anything a bit further than it was designed to go).
Apparently part of the problem with the belt is that she is too wide to sit square on unless she has the window right down. In the current climate my wife has the a/c on and the windows up. The car sharer prefers this anyway as she suffers in the heat and has hot flushes.
The result is that she has to sit twisted around in the seat, thus increasing the surface area that needs restraining.
Those seat belt extensions look like a good solution, and is something she could keep in her handbag for whenever the need arises.
Jesus T1ttyf g CHRIST how big is this unit?Apparently part of the problem with the belt is that she is too wide to sit square on unless she has the window right down. In the current climate my wife has the a/c on and the windows up. The car sharer prefers this anyway as she suffers in the heat and has hot flushes.
The result is that she has to sit twisted around in the seat, thus increasing the surface area that needs restraining.
Those seat belt extensions look like a good solution, and is something she could keep in her handbag for whenever the need arises.
RDJ said:
I've checked the passenger seat position and it is as far back as it can go (and if anything a bit further than it was designed to go).
Apparently part of the problem with the belt is that she is too wide to sit square on unless she has the window right down. In the current climate my wife has the a/c on and the windows up. The car sharer prefers this anyway as she suffers in the heat and has hot flushes.
The result is that she has to sit twisted around in the seat, thus increasing the surface area that needs restraining.
Those seat belt extensions look like a good solution, and is something she could keep in her handbag for whenever the need arises.
Honestly don't know why you are going to the bother. I'd rather pay the NCP charge than sit with this slothenly mound of gristle next to me. I consider my vehicle to be my personal space, an extension of my home if you will, no fApparently part of the problem with the belt is that she is too wide to sit square on unless she has the window right down. In the current climate my wife has the a/c on and the windows up. The car sharer prefers this anyway as she suffers in the heat and has hot flushes.
The result is that she has to sit twisted around in the seat, thus increasing the surface area that needs restraining.
Those seat belt extensions look like a good solution, and is something she could keep in her handbag for whenever the need arises.
king chance would I entertain this nonsense. 
RDJ said:
Those seat belt extensions look like a good solution, and is something she could keep in her handbag for whenever the need arises.
They look like they need to be bolted together. Would you really want your wife's car to be permanently disfigured?Not entirely sure how someone can be involved in a car share scheme without a car of their own. (A working one anyway). How long has her car been off the road?
jimmy156 said:
Come on, sounds like rubbish to me.
Even 4/5 up with luggage under normal driving i have never had to 'considerably increase braking distances'
Unless this women is like 30 stone plus, she must be able to get a seatbelt on if she tried.
I once gave a lift to a friend of a friend.Even 4/5 up with luggage under normal driving i have never had to 'considerably increase braking distances'
Unless this women is like 30 stone plus, she must be able to get a seatbelt on if she tried.
The guy was probably 25 stone of fat if not more - he was huge.
65" waist, 60" chest I'd guess.
He didn't want to wear a seatbelt but I insisted - it literally disappeared from view into folds of fat - it must have hurt.
The car was a big 4x4, but the handling was noticably effected.
It dived on left turns, and it felt like an adverse camber turning right.
The braking felt like I had a bootfull of bricks.
The passenger seat was never the same - he must have over extended the springs.
It's not just the weight, but the placement of the weight on the car.
Spanglepants said:
A fella I used to work with was morbidly obese, collapsed two cars - one of them in the works car park. First one was a Morris Ital estates and the other was an Austin Princess (or Ambassador) wedge thing.
Hate to say it but have you smelt the passenger seat?
And this, sports fans, is why I love PH.Hate to say it but have you smelt the passenger seat?
Love this thread... 
There’s a BIG woman at my work who claims that I’m ruining my health because I smoke. She gets out of breath walking approx 10 metres to the photocopier (she actually takes food with her to eat whilst waiting for her printing), so I’ll not be accepting health advice from her.
Anyway, OP; can Moby Dick not sit in the back of the car? If the weight was more evenly spread you might avoid future damage to suspension components. Never, EVER recommend this if your missus buys a rear wheel drive car though. The thought of tubby is sitting in the back directly above a vibrating driveshaft really does not bear considering.
I was going to make a gag about waterproof seat covers. But I can’t. I just.... can’t.
There’s a BIG woman at my work who claims that I’m ruining my health because I smoke. She gets out of breath walking approx 10 metres to the photocopier (she actually takes food with her to eat whilst waiting for her printing), so I’ll not be accepting health advice from her.
Anyway, OP; can Moby Dick not sit in the back of the car? If the weight was more evenly spread you might avoid future damage to suspension components. Never, EVER recommend this if your missus buys a rear wheel drive car though. The thought of tubby is sitting in the back directly above a vibrating driveshaft really does not bear considering.
I was going to make a gag about waterproof seat covers. But I can’t. I just.... can’t.
RDJ said:
Apparently part of the problem with the belt is that she is too wide to sit square on unless she has the window right down. In the current climate my wife has the a/c on and the windows up. The car sharer prefers this anyway as she suffers in the heat and has hot flushes.
Sounds like someone I was next to on a long haul flight once. She was slumped out facing the aisle, and perspiring so much she needed to, er, loosen her clothing and take regular sprays with water from a plant spray bottle she had with her! (and planes aren't that hot places to be!)Soov535 said:
Spanglepants said:
A fella I used to work with was morbidly obese, collapsed two cars - one of them in the works car park. First one was a Morris Ital estates and the other was an Austin Princess (or Ambassador) wedge thing.
Hate to say it but have you smelt the passenger seat?
And this, sports fans, is why I love PH.Hate to say it but have you smelt the passenger seat?
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