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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

aibu to object to five people in a car for four?

49 replies

Jinglebells99 · 04/08/2014 14:51

My ds was invited on a day out with his friend and family. Was very excited about the trip. On the day i discovered they were planning on taking five people in a car that only seats four (only four seatbelts)The trip involved three hours in the car. I offered to drive them to venue as wasn't happy for anyone to be unsafe and i have a seven seater car but they said they would make other arrangements for the other person. My ds went on trip but when he returned i discovered that they had left the other person at home even though they had paid for a ticket for him. Anyway what do you think? Would you be happy for your child to travel like that in a very small car? apparently my ds would have had a seat belt. They had planned for his friend to be seated in middle. I'm talking tiny car but don't want to be too identifying.

OP posts:
Booboostoo · 04/08/2014 17:51

YANBU it's extremely dangerous both for the unsecured person and for everyone else in the car when that person becomes a projectile.

Our nanny has use of our car and can take it out for her private trips. By coincidence I found out that she had used it to transport 7 people even though it is only licensed and insured for 5. I don't even know how they managed to squeeze 7 adults into a 5 seater but I thought it was very irresponsible of her.

charleybarley · 04/08/2014 17:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hulababy · 04/08/2014 18:02

I have a 4 seater Mini; car before that I had was too - Fiat 500. Friend has a 4 seater Beetle too. So this issue often arises.

However, we either take a second car or I will use our bigger car (7 seater) and Dh takes mine.

I would never even consider putting more than 4 people in my car.

AFAIK it would invalidate my insurance if I did, and I am sure it is a road traffic offence too.

It most certainly isn't safe.

Original poster
Jinglebells99 · 04/08/2014 18:05

happyseaturtles I offered to drive and they said don't worry we will make other arrangements for fifth person. I knew what car they owned but didn't know they were planning on taking five people in it until they rang to confirm picking up time and mentioned the fifth person. so then i asked about seat belts as i wasn't clear ifyou could fit five people in that car and they told me they were planning on sitting their son in between the two seats at back and he wouldn't have a seat belt but my child would. i then offered to drive them there but they said they'd make other arrangements for fifth person.

OP posts:
Original poster
Jinglebells99 · 04/08/2014 18:10

They were planning on taking three adults (2 of whom over 6 foot) plus the boys. i can't see how they would have fit in. I was wondering about the legality of it as well.

OP posts:
Hulababy · 04/08/2014 20:13

Well I can definitely fit 4 adults in my Mini (so long as I am driving - I have short legs, leaving leg room for an adult behind me ;) ) but not a child as well

addictedtosugar · 04/08/2014 21:28

You are not insured if you take more people than seatbelts.
My old KA only had 2 belts in the back, and this was spelt out to me by several insurance companies (in the days you phoned round before internet insurance was widespread).

No way I'd take more people than belts - unless its a classic car, and has never had rear seatbelts.

MulberryPeony · 04/08/2014 21:46

YANBU. Strangely enough we saw a Fiesta with four large adults in the back at the weekend. The back of it was almost dragging on the floor.

JustSquirted · 04/08/2014 23:27

www.nidirect.gov.uk/just-one-trip-can-kill

JoeyMaynardsghost · 04/08/2014 23:41

Would never do it now but I remember getting in the back of schoolfriend's parent's vans/boot of an estate car and sliding around as we travelled. This was late 70's.

RedSoloCup · 04/08/2014 23:41

Yanbu, it's just not worth it, I would never take too many but luckily have a seven seater so doesn't arise.

Kahlua4me · 04/08/2014 23:44

No way would I let my dc travel in a car with more people than seats.

Last year we helped at a fatal car accident. The lady in the back wasn't wearing a seatbelt and went through the windscreen. Died instantly. We had to get her out by smashing the glass under instructions from operator whilst ambulance etc were on their way.

I was traumatised for weeks so goodness knows how her poor family coped.

Certainly not worth the risk ever.

SistersOfPercy · 05/08/2014 00:01

As a teenager my friend dated a lad who was exceptionally portly shall we say. His parents drove a robin reliant and they lived in my street.
One night, howling wind, pissing it down, df and I were walking back to my house when this little yellow robin pulled up at the side of the road and offered us a lift back. "We're fine thanks"left my mouth as she said "ooh yes thanks".

That journey will stay with me forever. Parents in the front, her boyfriend in the middle and me and her suckered to each rear window either side of him like a couple of bad suction toys.
I can't see a robin now without thinking about it. It's miraculous it's front wheel wasn't in the air.

arethereanyleftatall · 05/08/2014 00:01

Yanbu, I'd never of it.
But, are they from a different country? Dh is South African, they would do this sort of stuff no worries. Last year when we went to visit I asked for a car seat for my 5 yr old dd. no problem they said. It was a cushion.

Original poster
Jinglebells99 · 05/08/2014 14:18

Arethereanyleftatall, interesting that you should say that as one of the parents is from South Africa! lol at your cushion for a child seat!

OP posts:
Original poster
Jinglebells99 · 05/08/2014 14:20

My son also said it was a squash with just the four of them. He was sat behind the six foot driver and couldn't see his feet!

OP posts:
morethanpotatoprints · 05/08/2014 14:23

YANBU I'm not sure what the penalty is but it is against the law anyway.
I have seen police pull over cars with too many before.
This is irrespective of the safety issues and especially dc.
Some people haven't got he brains they were born with.

myotherusernameisbetter · 05/08/2014 14:54

I used to have a small car with 2 proper seat belts plus a lap belt in the middle in the back of the car and I didn't like carrying 3 in the back at any point so changed my car when it got the point of ferrying my sons and their friends.

I would never let a child use the lap belt at all and only very occaisionally let an adult use it - It was chucking it with rain and I gave a woman and her son a lift back from nursery - 1.5 mile trip in slow town traffic, she sat in the middle with the lap belt.

ywnbu. it's not only the safety of the person without the belt, as pp have said, they are also risking everyone else in the car.

I have also been in cars with everyone squished in etc - no seatbelts and sharing belts etc. I think we all know better now.

SorryForTheTypos · 05/08/2014 15:34

Is it definitely illegal? Unsafe certainly, but illegal? I thought the law was along the lines of "must wear a seatbelt where one is available" - although I'm usally wrong so I expect I am here!

Just out of interest, my car has 4 seatbelts but could have had 5 if I had included this in the specifications, so I'm never quite sure whether it's a 4 seater going by seatbelts or 5 seater going by seats!

Anyway, I digress. No I would not be happy for a child (or adult I suppose) to travel in a vehicle without a seatbelt so YANBU. To be honest, I would also wonder what other safety issues they disregarded...

Booboostoo · 05/08/2014 15:42

SorryfortheTypos definitely illegal in the UK and many other countries. Modern cars are licensed for a specific number of passengers and the seat belts they are obliged to have reflect this. The insurance is based on this as well. Exceptionally old vehicles are exempt from the seatbelt law but not many will be in circulation now other than antiques.

Original poster
Jinglebells99 · 05/08/2014 15:44

someone up thread said it would invalidate your insurance. i don't know but would be interested too.

OP posts:
addictedtosugar · 05/08/2014 18:31

seems to depend on what your insurance says

For my KA, I'm certain it stated 4 seats, and there wasn't a central seatbelt. But if I've read the link above correctly, and its correct, my insurance documents defaulting to 5 seat/4passengers, and it would be OK.

The rules re kids seem to be different - kids between 3 and 12 get first grabs on any seatbelt.

Hulababy · 05/08/2014 20:53

I think it would come under the overloading of car laws, as it is a grey area under seatbelt laws

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