What is the penalty for driving with an extra passenger?

[SpeedySpeedBoy]

5 people in 4 seater car. I can't remember but I think I read that its considered overloading, doesn't invalidate your insurance, is a grey area, or maybe I'm wrong.

Is there a penalty?

[poo at Paul's]

I'd have thought if over 14, the passenger without a seatbelt would get a fine. if under 14, driver gets it.
As for whether there is another offence for driver, I don't know. "Unsafe Load" maybe?

[leyorkie]

Most “4” seaters have a centre lap belt for rear passengers.
Can’t you tell us make and model?

[Strudul]

leyorkie said:

Most “4” seaters have a centre lap belt for rear passengers.
Can’t you tell us make and model?

Those are 5-seaters. A 4-seater is something like a 911 / Vanquish / XK

[Hogstar]

I think it could depend, but would imagine either a fine and no points for the person not wearing a seat belt (or the driver if the person was a child) or could potentially be dealt with by the offence of danger of injury due to number of passengers carried or the manner in which they are carried which is 3 points and £100 fine

[Red 4]

Potentially;

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/sectio...

[Landshark]

If there’s more people than seats it’s dangerous carriage of passengers and it’s £100 and 3 points.

If the person is in a seat and not wearing an available seatbelt then if adult they get a £100 fine, if a child the driver gets the £100 fine.

[Integroo]

leyorkie said:

Most “4” seaters have a centre lap belt for rear passengers.
Can’t you tell us make and model?

Plenty don't, FN2 Type Rs for example.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Landshark said:

If there’s more people than seats it’s dangerous carriage of passengers and it’s £100 and 3 points.

Endorsement code CU50 apparently.

[Red 4]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

If it's 3 points there must be an endorsement code for this offence. What is it?

CU20.

Edit - nope, Twig is correct - CU50.

Edited by Red 4 on Saturday 28th April 21:14

[sunbeam alpine]

leyorkie said:

Most “4” seaters have a centre lap belt for rear passengers.
Can’t you tell us make and model?

Bloody Audi A5 doesn't - didn't realise until after I'd ordered it!

[Pica-Pica]

poo at Paul's said:

I'd have thought if over 14, the passenger without a seatbelt would get a fine. if under 14, driver gets it.
As for whether there is another offence for driver, I don't know. "Unsafe Load" maybe?

Interesting. I think the over 14 and not wearing a seat belt issue, would only apply if there was a seat belt in place for them to choose not to wear. Now, getting into a car knowing there is not a seat belt would, to me, be different, and a 14 to16/18 could not be expected to have that understanding or control over being carried in that car.

[SpeedySpeedBoy]

leyorkie said:

Most “4” seaters have a centre lap belt for rear passengers.
Can’t you tell us make and model?

Hyundai coupe though would still like to know for any 4 seater incase the need arose.

Edited by SpeedySpeedBoy on Sunday 29th April 01:04

[loose cannon]

If it has a lap Belt and 2 normal Belts in the rear it’s a five seater if no lap Belt It’s a 4 seater
And will be insured as the same

[Psycho Warren]

When I was young and stupid, I was the driver for the night on a typical messy run ashore. We got 7 people into the mondeo including 1 in the boot. Was quite commedy when coming back onto the base as everyone had to show thier ID cards. The guard went to look in the boot and they guy in the boot already had his id card out ready. He didnt know what to say and just shut the boot again and we carried on back to our accommodation.

Good job we didnt get caught.

[NGee]

SpeedySpeedBoy said:

5 people in 4 seater car.

Is there a penalty?

Until they invent a camera that can count the number of people in a car (they will one day) then I wouldn't worry about it.
The chances of getting stopped, unless you have an accident, are virtually zero.

[mmm-five]

Two e34 M5s...


A 5-seater:


A 4-seater (centre console is not movable):

[KevinCamaroSS]

mmm-five said:

Two e34 M5s...


A 5-seater:


A 4-seater (centre console is not movable):

Does that '5-seater' have a centre rear belt? If not, it is a 4-seater as well. Some cars give you the choice of 4 or 5 seats (e.g. Audi A1). If only 4 belts it is classified as a 4-seater, 5 belts it is a 5-seater.

[Jayho]

Surely the main concern isn't what would happen to me when I get caught but where is the passenger in the middle going to end up if I have a serious crash?

[mmm-five]

KevinCamaroSS said:

Does that '5-seater' have a centre rear belt? If not, it is a 4-seater as well. Some cars give you the choice of 4 or 5 seats (e.g. Audi A1). If only 4 belts it is classified as a 4-seater, 5 belts it is a 5-seater.

Yes, it has a 3rd belt.

The 2 outside seat belts come from the centre to to near the door. The centre one seat belt tends to slip behind the cushions.

Buckle is on the far side of the centre seat. This picture shows it better:


I prefer the 2 seater option myself, preferably in anthracite alcantara:


But the 3-seater version (you can also see the centre seat belt buckle) in the same colour would also be acceptable