Different types of vehicles have different weight capacities determined by their size and function.

Cars: The average load capacity for cars is 400-500 kg, depending on their size.
SUVs: Larger than cars, on average an SUV can have a load capacity of 500-700 kg
Minibus: A minibus, such as a Nissan minibus taxi can carry a load of 1240 kg.

Note that these are averages used to illustrate the concept of load capacity. Your vehicle’s load capacity may vary. Please refer to the manufacturer’s specifications to find the specific weight capacities of your vehicle.

OVERLOADING AND ROAD SAFETY

A vehicle is only designed to carry so much weight. When stretched beyond these limits, the operations and safety functions of a vehicle cannot perform as intended.

Often we hear about taxis, full of passengers, “losing control” and crashing. While weight is not the only reason for these crashes, an overloaded vehicle certainly increases the likelihood of a rollover as the added weight shifts the centre of gravity in vehicles.

The excess weight on the suspension, brakes, and tyres, also leads to mechanical failures that could result in crashes. Overloaded vehicles need longer stopping distances, making them a hazard to other road users.

Overloading is not only dangerous due to the weight of a vehicle. The number of people per seat is also a safety factor. For everyone to be safely restrained in a vehicle, the number of passengers should not exceed the number of seats. When there are too many people in a vehicle, some people are seated between seats, on the floor, in the boot, on the laps of others, or else half-standing. None of these are safe options. In the event of a crash, the momentum will cause severe injuries or death to those without a proper seat. Also, their unrestrained bodies become an incredible danger to others as well.

When it comes to children and the overloading of school buses, we already have a bone to pick with the current regulations. Overloading children in vehicles has tragic results.

SHORT-TERM GAINS, LONG-TERM VEHICLE COSTS

People may choose to overload their vehicles for many reasons. It could be a lack of knowledge, socio-economic barriers or just plain selfish greed.

A taxi driver may load his vehicle to the brim to maximise the profits from a trip. A school may use one bus overloaded with children to avoid the cost of hiring a second bus. A large family may sardine themselves into a car far too small for their needs because they cannot afford a larger car. But in the long term, overloading vehicles comes with a high maintenance cost. Eventually, especially if maintenance is ignored, mechanical failure becomes an inevitability.

Adding more weight to your vehicle adds more wear and tear.

Vehicle Suspension: Overloading damages the suspension of a car over time. When the suspension starts to fail, instead of absorbing the bumps of the road, your vehicle will jolt and shake. This in turn causes your whole car to degrade faster, leading to more maintenance costs.
A greater danger of failing suspension is that it makes the handling of a vehicle much harder. Your vehicle may veer to one side or have difficulty steering. Compounded with the aforementioned shift of the centre of gravity that comes with the extra weight of an overloaded vehicle, this greatly increases the chances of a crash.

Tyres: The cost of new tyres is already something most drivers dread. Extra weight in a vehicle causes tyres to wear out much faster, requiring more frequent replacement. Overloading on worn-out tyres presents extra risks such as tyres blowing out and loss of control of a vehicle.

Brakes: Adding more weight behind your brakes forces them to work harder. The result is that they are likely to overheat, wear out and eventually fail.

Fuel: Because overloading puts strain on your vehicle, the consumption of fuel increases.
Often, financial reasons one may have for overloading a vehicle are negated by the added fuel costs.

THE IMPACT ON ROAD MAINTENANCE

If there is one universal thing that South Africans vocally hate, it’s potholes. At some point, we all decided that the measure of how “good” a province is can be determined by the number of potholes. Lack of road maintenance is the primary reason for our roads disintegrating, but overloaded vehicles exacerbate the problem. Excessive weight deforms asphalt, leading to cracks and potholes.

Bridges designed to carry specific loads will become weakened under overloaded vehicles. This leads to faster deterioration, making them less safe. Constant overloading could lead to a catastrophic bridge collapse.

The financial burden of repairing damaged infrastructure ultimately falls on taxpayers. The ripple effect of overloading on road maintenance further strains government resources, impacting other essential services.

GROWING PASSENGER WEIGHT

If you have reached this point of our article and the idea of an overloaded vehicle is solely reserved for a minibus taxi carrying 30 people and their monthly grocery shopping, we have some news for you.

If the load capacity for a small car is 440 kg, no more than 80% of this should be allocated to the weight of passengers. The other 20% is reserved for cargo and fixtures not included in the kerb weight of the vehicle. This means that the maximum weight per passenger should be 70kg.

Globally, obesity is on the rise. In South Africa, 50% of the population is considered overweight.
Just this morning, the internet was divided over this story of a woman in the US who was denied entry into a rideshare vehicle on account of her size.

The topic of weight can be a sensitive one. There are many systemic problems that lead to growing weight concerns. For the average person, we spend most of our lives sitting down, healthy balanced meals are often more expensive and time-consuming, mental health is in decline, and exercising regularly is something many people do not feel they have the time and energy for. Some people are just built differently and have different bodies.

As the global population tends more and more towards bigger bodies, what is the solution to safety regarding this? Many people would say diet and exercise but if this were a realistic and easy solution, everyone would be doing it. Should car manufacturers design cars around this growing concern? Manufacturers may need to account for changing demographics by designing vehicles with higher weight tolerances, but this also comes at a cost.

This conversation is a far bigger discussion. But it is good to know your vehicle’s load capacity. If you and your passengers are of a bigger build, carry fewer passengers in your vehicle and ensure everyone is seated in a way where weight is distributed evenly.

Overloading vehicles is a pervasive issue in South Africa, with far-reaching consequences for road safety, vehicle maintenance, and infrastructure. By understanding and respecting weight limits, drivers can contribute to a safer and more sustainable transport system. Addressing this issue requires a combined effort from individuals, businesses, and policymakers to ensure safer roads for everyone.