I was chatting to some mates in down the pub and I heard a story about how someone but 6 people into a car built for 5 and has 5 seatbelts. The conversation turned to would that be legal and all the stuff that went with it but with no conclusion. So can anybody help me with finding the answer?
I’m pretty sure that putting 6 people into a car built for 5 is illegal. No cite I’m afraid (it’s too late for that) but isn’t it all to do with insurance? I.E. The car would only be insured for 5 people because that is what it was designed for. Insurance companies do have different prices for all cars after all, it can’t be all to do with their speed and likelihood of being stolen, can it? 
This is being settled in the US through our traditonal method – the lawsuit.
Can somebody help me out here? – I think it was on 20/20 a few weeks ago. A family of five had an SUV, with a bench rear seat, but only 4 seatbelts. Their unbelted son was killed in an accident, and they are suing the manufacturer for not providing enough belts for the seats. The manufacturere claims the vehicle was clearly intended (and labeled) for a driver and 3 passengers, and the family overloaded the car.
Jeez, I think the whole suing people thing is going too far in the US. Although, I guess there was that guy in the UK who sued a bar when he fell off their bar stool while drunk! :rolleyes:
Anyway, to get back to the original question, I know it’s illegal to put people in the back of vans when there isn’t proper seating etc (I.E. Your m8’s transit) so it would suggest the same would apply to the 6 people in the car designed for 5.
Having said that, I’m going on the word of my friend who has a van here.
I don’t know anything about US law I’m afraid.
In australia you can have as many people in the car as you want as long as all the seatbelts are in (proper) use.
So that’s a no then. That means I was right. They owe me a pint 
I’m not sure that is quite as simple as it seems. I am led to believe that when a vehicle is carrying 8 or more persons, the driver is required to have a bus licence.
Basically it is illegal (in the UK) to be in a moving vehicle and not use the seat belts if they are fitted.
However, IIRC, insurance companies cannot just deny coverage to unbelted passengers (one site suggests a 25% cut in personal injury damages can be expected) and they cannot just deny responsibilities for extra passengers. They would have to show that the overloading of the vehicle was a partial cause of the accident, or show that the person had ignored part of the contract of insurance limiting the number of people insured. IIRC there was a case some years ago that resulted in the insurance company having to pay a claim for all passengers in an overloaded car. An insurance company might refuse to pay, but might well back down if they were sued, given the state of case law.
Woo hoo!
Doh!
Looks like I spoke too soon.