A believable reason not to overload car

TheFitnessLife

This may sound reason but I am looking for a good reason for the above question.

Im a 24 year old lad and will be taking part in the 12 pubs tomorrow night. I don't drink so always take my car which makes it a lot handier and cheaper getting home.

However there are a good few lads in my friends group and I have a small car that can only take 3 passengers (middle seat doesn't have a seatbelt).

Is there any believable reason why I wouldn't be able to bring a fourth passenger for example too severe on a spring due to the weight? I don't know a lot about that side of cars.

I'm don't want to take a fourth passenger without a seatbelt but also don't want to sound like a buzzkill.

Cheers

bucketybuck

The lack of a seatbelt is the believable reason.

Do yourself a massive favor. Its bad enough a sober person going on a 12 pubs, but for your own sanity leave the car at home. Do you really want wasted friends pressurizing you to overload your car with drunk people in the middle of the night?

Seriously, just don't do it. Make up some mechanical fault or just let the air out of a tyre and say you got a flat if you need a reason not to drive.

Nekarsulm

Before you all set out, just announce "OK, Bill Pat and Tony are coming in my car, that's all she'll hold" and stick to it.

MAJJ

TheFitnessLife wrote: »

This may sound reason but I am looking for a good reason for the above question.

Im a 24 year old lad and will be taking part in the 12 pubs tomorrow night. I don't drink so always take my car which makes it a lot handier and cheaper getting home.

However there are a good few lads in my friends group and I have a small car that can only take 3 passengers (middle seat doesn't have a seatbelt).

Is there any believable reason why I wouldn't be able to bring a fourth passenger for example too severe on a spring due to the weight? I don't know a lot about that side of cars.

I'm don't want to take a fourth passenger without a seatbelt but also don't want to sound like a buzzkill.

Cheers

You'll end up baby sitting them, you must have some patience. Anyway I believe the driver is liable for the points and fines if any passenger has no seat belt. Also, of you crashed the passenger without a belt could end up killing you or your other friends. Too much buzz kill for you maybe.

Big Bag of Chips

MAJJ wrote: »

Anyway I believe the driver is liable for the points and fines if any passenger has no seat belt.

Only if the passenger is under 17. Over 17 it's an €80 fine for the passenger. (That's if the passenger isn't wearing an available seat belt. If there's none available then I don't know what the situation is. Maybe both fined, him for no seatbelt, you for overloading 5 people in a 4 seater car.)

How many are going on the 12 pubs? And how many drivers are there? If there are enough drivers then you shouldn't have to overload. If there aren't enough drivers do yourself a favour and don't volunteer yourself. It won't end well!

Atlantic Dawn

Always only bring enough people that you have seat belts for, if you bring more than this your a bloody idiot and if there's a crash killing people it will look bad on you more than anyone else.

boombang

Say you got pulled previously for driving with more people than seatbelts and you're not doing it again.

Obviously you should be able to just say I'm only taking three without explanation, but I get the need for a white lie.

Atlantic Dawn

If the people you're giving a lift to have to question why you won't carry more than you have belts for they are clearly thick.

the_syco

https://www.joe.ie/news/this-car-in-roscommon-was-caught-ridiculously-overloaded-by-the-guards-509059

the driver was given a ticket for an overloaded vehicle

So it seems you may get a fine.

punisher5112

The lad that killed 8 people didn't care.

7 friends and another driver in a 5 seated car with 8 onboard.


That's reason right there.

John_Rambo

If the car is designed to take a certain number of people and the seat belts restrict further loading there's a good chance your cars suspension/performance/handling integrity will be undermined. This means the car won't react the way it normally would when braking, cornering or accelerating.

Overloading and stupid driving was the cause of Ireland's worst ever single road crash in Donegal (hardly surprising) where the sober driver killed eight people including seven of his friends and another innocent driver on his way home from Bingo.

Cynical efforts to blame the innocent elderly gentleman that's life was abruptly ended on the accident were dispelled due to witness statements and expert crash forensics.

In fairness, this clown was driving like a lunatic, but either way, your overloaded car's going to be a whale to drive if it's a small car with to many people in it. Don't get bullied in to it. If you do, drive really slowly or be prepared to make a few trips.

You're going to be a right bollix for not giving them all a lift home, you're going to be a worse one if you kill them all!!! That's if you survive!!

raabbles

Really? You need to ask for a reason not to put an additional passenger without a seatbelt in your car? Never mind the fact it's illegal or your stupid springs, worry about all the road deaths caused by no seatbelts being worn. Even minor crashes have been fatal because of this.

However responsible you think being a designated driver makes you is gone out the window when your not bothered about endangering the lives of your friends wearing no seatbelt.

Oral Surgeon

Just say that you’ve been through a few Garda checkpoints this week and know that they fine you if caught...
Or just leave the car at home and have 12 pints!!

Better still, I’d just stay at home, been there, done that, nursed the headache!!!

punisher5112

Oral Surgeon wrote: »

Just say that you’ve been through a few Garda checkpoints this week and know that they fine you if caught...
Or just leave the car at home and have 12 pints!!

Better still, I’d just stay at home, been there, done that, nursed the headache!!!

They don't drink!!!!

elperello

Be clear and firm from the outset that you can only carry three.
Anyone who doesn't like that do you really want to be in their company?
If they can afford 12 drinks they can afford a taxi!

bucketybuck

elperello wrote: »

Be clear and firm from the outset that you can only carry three.

Realistically, firm and clear at the outset won't matter a damn 6 hours later when a bunch in their early twenties have just fired 12+ pints into them.

punisher5112

Years ago I remember been in a car with 9 and it was a brand new 206.... It was a 3 door and 7 of those were girls....

It was very hard I tells ya.

Things have changed so much and it is lethal.

Cee-Jay-Cee

I simply wouldn’t do it. The first few hours will be fine but once they start to get drunk then things can get messy and any trouble they may cause while in your car (hanging out windows, shouting at people etc) you are responsible for and could be prosecuted for despite your passengers being adults and legally culpable.

ironclaw

I was always the sober mate in college.I didn't mind it, I didn't have a taste for drink and lived out in the sticks. I often gave a lift or two from Dublin. Was pulled a few times, especially late at night. A car full of lads on the lash is a prime target, and rightly so. Just bring whoever you can fit or offer the space to the lads closest to you.

Put another way, place yourself on a rugby pitch and have an 80kg lad flatten you at full force. Now imagine a little more speed and all the impact on your head from theirs. If you are not killed, you won't have much of a life after it. No belt, no lift. Simple.

Greybottle

Your insurance won't cover you for starters. It's probably listed as a 4 seater and if it isn't they'll tell you that you failed to inform them of this.

That's reason enough.

Best advice is to leave the car at home and figure the taxi fare into the nights cost.

cplwhisper

Insurance is null and voided if exceeding the seatbelt limit.

Just ask for few euro extra when canculating kitty got 12-pubs and it’ll cost bet safe bus/taxi Run home for the non-passenger in your car..!

Penalty Points for burg driver and the offending passengers and fine if simply stopped by Garda

Heaven forbid accident then P-Points are the least of your worries

Brian Scan

punisher5112 wrote: »

Years ago I remember been in a car with 9 and it was a brand new 206.... It was a 3 door and 7 of those were girls....

It was very hard I tells ya.

Things have changed so much and it is lethal.

I'll bet.

punisher5112

Brian Scan wrote: »

I'll bet.

I sh1t you not....


Them were the days....

TheFitnessLife

Hi all

Thanks for the replies. In the end I didn't take any passengers cos I went home earlier than my friends.

Just to clear something up too, I was never going to take more passengers than there were seatbelts. I just wanted to find a believable excuse (car related) as to why I couldn't fit four passengers in a car. 'There's only three seatbelts' would work for the majority of people but as someone mentioned earlier, its not an ideal excuse for drunk lads in their 20'.

mikeecho

Has it been established what type of car the op has.

The centre seat belt, (Probably a lap belt) may be stuck behind/under the seat.

It's rare that a modern car wouldn't seat 5

punisher5112

mikeecho wrote: »

Has it been established what type of car the op has.

The centre seat belt, (Probably a lap belt) may be stuck behind/under the seat.

It's rare that a modern car wouldn't seat 5

Many a car has only 4 belts...


Such as small city cars, ford kuga commercial, coupes etc etc...

mikeecho

punisher5112 wrote: »

Many a car has only 4 belts...


Such as small city cars, ford kuga commercial, coupes etc etc...

But what is the op driving ?

TheFitnessLife

mikeecho wrote: »

Has it been established what type of car the op has.

The centre seat belt, (Probably a lap belt) may be stuck behind/under the seat.

It's rare that a modern car wouldn't seat 5

Its a Nissan Pixo.

elperello

Well that's a nice little car.
Reliable, cheap to run etc.
Why you couldn't just say up front without apology that you were willing to take 3 mates home and no more is still unclear to me.
Anyhow if you are happy with the Pixo and the "go home early" story then good luck and Happy New Year.:)