A Heavy-Weight Issue

After another summer of shame for British tourists abroad, holiday makers planning to behave badly on a winter break in the UK might be interested in recent press reports about our police force. With obesity becoming a bigger problem (excuse the pun) some police cars containing two officers are within 14 stone of the maximum weight, meaning they can only carry one extra passenger – tricky if there are two law-breakers to transport to the station.

Apparently, cars that exceed their Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) would not be insured in the event of an accident. There could also be difficulties with the vehicle’s handling, and stopping distances may increase. Drivers of overloaded cars could face a £60 fine and three points on their licence.If it goes to court, the maximum fine is £2,500 and a possible driving ban.

It’s quite a nasty shock to hear that overfilling your car can lead to such severe penalties. We’re all too aware of the kind of fines you can get for speeding or dangerous driving, but how many of us have a full understanding of all the different laws that could result in hefty punishment? I suppose it’s a case of common sense. More passengers than seat belts can’t be a good idea, and filling a vehicle with so much stuff that you can’t see out of the window is naturally going to cause problems. The MAM for any vehicle (based on the capability of tyres, suspension etc) is normally shown on the VIN plate and/or the handbook. The AA recommends distributing weight as safely as possible by putting heavier items low down in the car to keep the centre of gravity down and reduce the affect on stability.

This advice is all very useful, but what can you do if you suspect the total weight of your three passengers is enough to tip you over the limit? It’s no secret that our nation is getting heavier by the day. A large family with a small amount of luggage could easily be too much for the average vehicle.

It’s certainly something that car manufacturers will need to address with increasing urgency in the future. Until then, the only solution I can offer is to carry a set of scales in your boot – though be warned, this could result in the loss of friends.Oh, and stay away from the doughnuts!