To refuse to give someone a lift because of their weight?

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

Someone I know is struggling to get to a hospital appointment. They dont qualify for hospital transport. We live rurally so public transport is limited.

I work near the hospital and they have strongly hinted that they would really appreciate a lift there. Normally I would be happy to offer. However, this person is very overweight. I dont know exactly how much he weighs but I know it's over 30 stone. I'm concerned about whether my car can take the weight. But maybe it can? I don't want to refuse if it wont damage my car.

WIBU to make an excuse to not give a lift?

ShallICompareTheeToASummersDay don't dis smart cars. My friend is a 6ft 5in bench press champion and weighs in around 25stone. He drives a smart.

Will a 30 stone person fit into your car?
Why did he let him self get so fat?

My DF drives a convertible and has stopped giving his (very heavy) friend a lift because he can’t get in and out of the car. It’s quite a low car and the friend holds onto the soft top roof to lower himself in and pull himself out, and it’s wrecking the roof. DF tried putting the roof down but the friend asked for it to be put up so he could hang onto it. So DF won’t let him in his car any more.

My car was damaged by someone very overweight. It is a very difficult situation. At the time I didn't think. The seat was broken and the suspension damaged.
Maybe check with the manufacturer?
The other risk is the steering and braking distance.
I am the last person to want to not help someone or hurt their feelings, but you have to be sensible.

Tell him to lay across the back seat to distribute himself fairly🙄

I used to give someone a lift on occasion if I was leaving work at the same time as him, I had a Nissan micra at the time and he was a very big guy, not 30 st on but I think he must've been at least 20. When he sat down I could feel the car go right down at the passenger side, it almost felt like I was driving on two wheels. I eventually made excuses if I was leaving around the same time because I didn't feel the car could take his weight. Remember if your car takes 3 or 4 passengers their weight is dispersed through out the car and not all in one spot. YANBU.

I am sure the car would take the weight but it will drive differently. My DH was 24 stone at one point and i used to joke it would make driving easier if he could sit in the middle of the back seat.

This is a different take on the usual fat threads, I'll give you credit for that.

This.

The poll adds an interesting slant, though.

Hi
It's me, 30 stone person. It's okay, I'll take a crane.

Is it a sidecar you have?

What's the legal position when he won't be wearing a seatbelt? Is it solely his responsibility - or does it come to you as the driver/does he have a medical exemption?

And could he fit into the back, as there's no way on earth he's fitting into the front passenger seat and still leaving enough room for you to operate the handbrake and change gears?

As a bariatric patient, perhaps he is eligible for hospital transport, as I think you'd end up trying to help him out and possibly doing your back in, too.

Not only are YABU, you’re also fat phobic and should take a good hard look at yourself.

I hope when you need help no one helps you

My late mil wasobese she used to fit in a our car fine

Many years ago my suspension was damaged by a very heavy colleague. It was a small car. I didn’t mention it.

I don't know why you're getting so many snarky replies. I had my car damaged a few years back after giving a very large colleague a lift ( they snapped side of seat off) so no YANBU

Is it a Smart car?

What is the car? If the seatbelt doesn’t go round, I think a passenger is exempt from using one, therefore laying across the back seat could actually be an option.

My very overweight dm broke my car seat and it cost a fortune for me to repair.

30 stones is basically 2 tall men, or 2 overweight women. Any car should be able to cope with that weight. However not all cars have front seats suitable for a very large person but they should be able to fit in the back seat

Weight distribution in a moving vehicle is a safety issue. 30 stone is heavy. It really isn't fat phobic to be concerned.
I am on loads of medication that has made me gain weight. I know how difficult it can be.
But I know that 30 stone in the passenger seat of a small car is a potential problem.

Fatphobic
I wouldn't want 30 stone weighing down the passenger side of my car and I wouldn't want to struggle to change gears because someone's leg was in the way.
I understand that there are many reasons why people get fat (I'm overweight too) but when a person takes up the space of 2-3 adults people can't be expected to just pretend they don't.

Wouldn’t want them lying across the back seat - would you want 30 stone going into the back of your seat in the event of a crash

#WhatWouldEmmaGrundyDo?

This is the second time this question has been posted only last time the OP said she was taking the fat person shopping in her Fiat 500 and it was struggling to get up a hill.

Erm, I'm about 20 stone, I have very comfortably driven my 6ft DH, 6ft DSis and DMum around in my Smart forfour...