- Officers were left horrified after stopping the vehicle in Basford, Nottingham.
Police were left stunned after stopping a seven-seater car on a busy road and discovering it was carrying 14 people.
Officers decided to stop the Vauxhall Zafira along Nottingham Road, in Basford, Nottingham, on suspicion that it was overloaded on Monday, May 27.
But they were surprised to find twice as many legally allowed passengers inside, including eight children who were not wearing seat belts.
The driver has been cited in court for driving without due care and attention.
He will also face charges of failing to ensure that children under 14 wore seat belts and using a motor vehicle where the number of passengers could cause danger.
Police were stunned to find 14 people, including children, crammed into a seven-seater car. Pictured: An officer talks to people outside the vehicle.
Police stopped the vehicle (pictured) on Nottingham Road, Basford, Nottingham, on Monday, May 27.
PC Dan Bird, of Nottinghamshire Police’s Radford Road response team, said: “Carrying too many passengers in a vehicle is a serious offence, mainly due to the safety risks it poses.”
‘People who are not wearing a seatbelt are twice as likely to die in a road accident, so we were extremely alarmed to find eight children without seatbelts inside this vehicle.
‘Drivers should always respect the passenger capacity of their vehicle, as failure to do so can have devastating consequences.
«In addition, driving with more passengers than seat belts can void your car insurance, leaving you without insurance in the event of an accident.
‘You could also face penalty points on your license and a fine. In serious cases, you may be taken to court, where penalties could be heavier.’
After law enforcement posted photos of the strange incident on social media, bewildered Internet users reacted with astonishment.
One person commented: “How is it possible to fit 14 people in a car?”, while another added: “This is incredible.”
A third said: ‘Our kids fight with 2 on their backs!’ and another wrote: “It’s just common sense, why as an adult do you need to be told that?”
By law, all drivers and passengers must wear a seat belt while traveling in a car, truck, or other vehicle, whether sitting in the front seat or as a passenger in the back seat.
The person driving is responsible for ensuring that children under 14 years of age wear one.
Passengers over 14 years of age are responsible for wearing a seat belt.
Passengers caught not wearing a seatbelt when one is available, unless they have a special reason not to do so, may be asked to pay a fine of £100.
This fine can increase to £500 if the case goes to court.
