Police officers have spoken of their shock after 14 people were discovered in a Vauxhall, despite the vehicle only having space for seven people.
Nottinghamshire Police took to social media after a staggering discovery saw them uncover a vehicle with 14 occupants, even though there are only seven seats in a Vauxhall Zafira.
Response officers pulled over the seven-seater Vauxhall Zafira along Nottingham Road, New Basford, earlier this week after they thought it was overloaded.
The car was found to have 14 people inside along the busy road, with the police force slamming the driver for his reckless actions.
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The Vauxhall Zafira was pulled over by police who believed it was overloaded
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE POLICE
Among the 14 people situated inside the vehicle, eight occupants were children. The police reported that none of them were wearing seatbelts at the time.
The male driver was summonsed to court for several offences after he was stopped earlier this week.
This included driving without due care and attention, failing to ensure children under the age of 14 were wearing a seatbelt and using a motor vehicle where the number of passengers was likely to cause danger.
PC Dan Bird, of the Radford Road Response team, said: “Carrying too many passengers in a vehicle is a serious offence, primarily due to the safety risks it poses.
“People are twice as likely to die in a car accident if they do not wear a seatbelt, which is why we were extremely alarmed to find eight children without seatbelts inside this vehicle.
“Drivers should always adhere to their vehicle’s passenger capacity as failure to do so can have devastating consequences."
Drivers must wear a seatbelt where one is available and can be slapped with a £100 fine unless they have a special reason not to.
In extreme circumstances, the fine can be increased if the case goes to court, with drivers potentially required to pay a £500 fine.
PC Bird added: “Furthermore, driving with more passengers than there are seatbelts can void your car insurance, leaving you uninsured in the event of an accident.
“You can also face penalty points on your licence and a fine. In severe cases, you might be summoned to court where penalties could be more significant.”
Drivers are always responsible for all occupants in their car regardless of where in the vehicle they are seated, particularly if they are under the age of 14.
The driver of the vehicle is also required to make sure any passengers under 14 wear their seatbelts, with anyone older responsible for putting on the safety device themselves.
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The Vauxhall Zafira has seven seats
STELLANTIS
Rule 97 of the Highway Code states that drivers must ensure their vehicle is legal and roadworthy, including the appropriate number of occupants in the vehicle.
