Stage 2 Course Content 12 — Passenger and Cargo Loads

• Loading passengers or cargo
• Special exceptions to loading passengers or cargo
• Restrictions on passenger or cargo load
• Prevention of falling off, etc.
• Transporting dangerous substances

1. Loading Passengers or Cargo

1. A driver must not have people sit in places other than the seats, or load cargo in places other than carriers and seats. However, when loading a truck with cargo, the driver may carry the minimum number of people necessary to watch over the cargo on the carrier.

Reference — The minimum number of people necessary to watch over the cargo

When carrying cargo, you may carry the minimum number of people necessary to watch over the cargo on the carrier as an exception, for preventing danger such as falling off or collapse of the cargo, as well as for preventing theft. (A permission from a police chief is not required.) However, after the cargo is unloaded, that person is no longer allowed to ride on the carrier.

2. The driver must not carry a passenger or cargo on an automobile in a way that could obstruct the driving operations, harm the stability of the automobile, or obstruct the visibility of the automobile's turn signals, number plates, brake lights, taillights, etc. from the outside of the automobile.

2. Special Exceptions to Loading Passengers or Cargo

1. When the police chief of the place of departure grants permission, you may load cargo in places other than carriers and seats or drive a truck while carrying people on the carrier.
2. When the police chief of the place of departure grants permission, you may drive, carrying cargo that exceeds loading restrictions (weight, length, width, height, or loading method) because the cargo cannot be divided. In this case, the police chief of the place of departure may attach the following conditions to prevent danger. You must drive while observing the attached conditions.
   • When the length or width of loaded cargo exceeds the restrictions, the following objects must be attached to a visible position on the cargo:
     • During the day: Red, square cloth with sides 0.3 m or more
     • During the night: Red light or red reflector
   • A permit must be displayed in a visible place on the front of the vehicle.
   • Take any other measures necessary to prevent danger on the road.

3. Restrictions on Passenger or Cargo Load

1. Seating Capacity and Restrictions on Cargo Load

You must not load passengers exceeding the designated seating capacity (including the driver) or load cargo violating the restrictions on cargo load shown in the table below.

Notes:

• For automobiles that the Public Safety Commission approves, the height should be 4.1 m or less.
• For regular automobiles with 3 wheels and regular automobiles with a total engine displacement of 660 cc or less (light motor vehicles), the height should be 2.5 m or less.

Seating capacity:

• The seating capacity includes the driver.
• For children under 12 years of age, 3 children are counted as 2 adults.
• Formula: (Seating capacity − Number of adult passengers) × 1.5 = Number of children who can ride (Round down to the closest whole number)

Reference — Prohibition against requesting drivers to drive a vehicle when overloaded, etc.

Do not ask the driver to overload a vehicle (load cargo that exceeds a vehicle's maximum weight limit) and drive it, or sell or give him/her anything that exceeds a designated weight restriction.

Attention — Proceeding through a place with height limitation

The bodies of large automobiles, medium-sized automobiles, and semi-medium-sized automobiles are higher than regular automobiles. When proceeding through a place with a vehicle height limitation, confirm that the vehicle height is equal to or less than the height limitation. Especially, pay attention to the height of the cargo on the carrier, since it may exceed the height limit of automobiles that can proceed through there.

If you drive a vehicle violating the restrictions on cargo load:

If the weight limit is exceeded:

• The brakes do not work effectively, and the braking distance becomes long.
• Vibrations or noises may be more significant.
• Exhaust gas increases.
• The tires and roads are damaged.

If the height limit is exceeded:

• The vehicle often hits elevated bridges, footbridges, etc.
• The vehicle often cuts electric wires, communication wires, overhead train wires, etc.
• The center of gravity is elevated, and therefore the vehicle is prone to overturn on curves.
• The cargo is prone to collapse.

2. Prohibition against Riding Double on Novice Drivers

When a person who has held a large motorcycle license or regular motorcycle license for less than a year rides a large motorcycle or regular motorcycle, he/she must not ride double. However, if the vehicle is equipped with a side car, this does not apply.

Reference — Cases where riding double is not prohibited

1. When a person who has held a regular motorcycle license for 1 year or more before he/she is given a large motorcycle license.
2. When a person who has held a large or regular motorcycle license for 1 year or more in total receives a new large or regular motorcycle license within 6 months of the previous license ceasing to be valid.

※ When riding double on a vehicle, the vehicle body becomes heavier compared to when only a driver is on it and therefore traveling while maintaining a balance becomes difficult. Even if riding double is allowed, you should carry a passenger only after you are skilled in riding the vehicle alone.

(For riding double on expressways, refer to p. 248)

4. Prevention of Falling Off, etc.

The driver must shut the doors firmly or load the cargo securely with a rope, cover, etc., so that the passengers will not fall off or cargo will not fall off or scatter around. If cargo has fallen off or scattered around, the driver must take necessary measures, such as removing it immediately. When doing so, exercise due caution toward following vehicles, etc.

Reference — Measures to take when an object has fallen

If cargo loaded on a vehicle falls off or scatters around on the road, it may endanger other traffic or may lead to traffic congestion or traffic accidents. In such an event, the driver must take the following actions:

1. Remove the fallen objects.
2. Guide following vehicles to keep them from hitting the fallen objects.
3. If the driver cannot remove the fallen object by him/herself, contact a relevant authority or wrecker service.

It is very dangerous to try to collect an object fallen on an expressway by yourself. You should place an emergency warning reflector device to prevent danger and wait until a relevant authority arrives.

Reference — How to secure cargo

The following methods can be used to prevent cargo from collapsing:

1. Place the cargo so that the center of gravity of the entire cargo is located in the center of the carrier.
2. If there is a gap around the cargo, use wood blocks, etc. as stoppers to prevent the cargo from moving.
3. Secure the cargo to the carrier using ropes, etc.

※ If you cover cargo to prevent it from getting wet, tie the cover to the carrier firmly to keep the cover from swelling or flipping while the vehicle is traveling.

5. Transporting Dangerous Substances

When carrying dangerous substances, pack and load them securely, attach a signboard, etc. to show that dangerous substances are being carried. Also, when you park the vehicle, avoid dangerous places and watch the dangerous substances.

(Signboard attached to a vehicle transporting dangerous substances: 危)

Let's Try — Course Content 12 — Check your understanding with right/wrong questions.

(See page 275 for answers.)

1. When loading a truck with cargo, the driver may drive the truck while carrying the minimum number of people necessary to watch over the cargo or to load or unload the cargo on the carrier.
2. To calculate the seating capacity of an automobile, 2 children under 12 years of age are counted as 1 adult.
3. Cargo loaded on a regular truck may protrude beyond the front or rear end of the vehicle body if the protrusion is within one-tenth of the length of that truck.
4. The maximum permitted width of cargo that can be carried on a carrier of a large automobile is the width of the vehicle plus two-tenths of the width of that vehicle.
5. When carrying cargo on a motorcycle or general motorized bicycle, the cargo may protrude up to 0.15 m beyond either side of the carrier.
6. If the driver accepts, you may have the driver to overload a vehicle (loading cargo that exceeds a vehicle's maximum weight limit) and drive it.
7. The maximum cargo height limit for large automobiles and regular automobiles (excluding the regular automobiles with 3 wheels and the regular automobiles with a total engine displacement of 660 cc or less) is 3.8 m from the ground.
8. It is permitted to load cargo up to 60 kg on the carrier of a large motorcycle, regular motorcycle, or general motorized bicycle.

(正: right, 誤: wrong)