Most drivers are unaware of the potential penalties of driving an overloaded vehicle

In a recent survey(1) by Europcar UK, nearly three quarters (73.5%) of Brits admitted to overpacking their car for their summer holidays. Almost a third (31%) are unaware this could lead to a fine and penalty points if they are pulled over by police. Just 16% correctly stated the maximum penalty is a £300 fine and three points on the driver’s licence.

“When preparing for a summer holiday in the UK, packing for all weather-related eventualities means it’s easy to accidentally overpack,” commented Sarah Clarke, Consumer Marketing Manager for Europcar UK. “However, if throwing in those last minute just-in-case items leads to overloading the car, drivers could find themselves in hot water. It's not just about the pillows blocking the rear view or lose items shifting around dangerously on the back seat. Drivers could receive a fine and penalty points if their vehicle is over its weight limit.”

Drivers with vehicles weighing 5-9% more than the maximum limit could receive a £100 fixed penalty notice(2). Overloading by 10-14% would attract a £200 fine, and overloading by 15% or more could lead to a fixed penalty of £300. Each fine comes with 3 penalty points on the driver’s licence.

A vehicle’s weight limit will be noted in its handbook as well as usually on a plate or sticker somewhere on the vehicle. Weighing luggage (and passengers) or taking the loaded vehicle to a weighbridge are the only ways to be certain if the vehicle is within its weight limit, but there are visible tell-tale signs that a car may be carrying too much weight. The most obvious is that there will be less space between the tyres and the wheel arch.

A vehicle carrying too much weight will be harder to control, the brakes will be less effective, and all the occupants will be at greater risk of injury in the event of a collision, loss of control or even just heavy braking, if items are not properly secured. Overloading can also cause long term damage to brakes, suspension and tyres - all potentially costly to repair or replace.

Sarah Clarke continued: “The size of vehicle required for the school run, the daily commute, or as a runaround for local trips is likely to be far smaller than what we need for a summer holiday and all the paraphernalia we like to take with us.

“Of course, it doesn’t make financial sense for drivers to invest in an every-day vehicle large enough to safely transport all the luggage, camping equipment or sporting items holidaymakers need to transport on holidays once or twice per year. Instead of taking on the higher cost of the vehicle and increased fuel consumption, Europcar allows drivers to rent a car that will meet their packing needs without sacrificing comfort or safety on the road.

End

Contacts

Press Relations

Wendy Harrison/Cecile Stearn:

europcarmobilitygroupUK_PR@harrisonsadler.com

020 8977 9132

Notes to Editors

About Europcar Mobility Group

Europcar Mobility Group is a global mobility player, with 75 years of mobility services expertise and a leading position in Europe. “We help to change the way you move” is what we stand for and brings us together. More than ever, we're committed to delivering simple, seamless, innovative solutions that make mobility easy, enjoyable and increasingly eco-friendly.

To do this, we offer to individuals and businesses a wide range of car and van rental services, be it for a few hours, a few days, a week, a month or more, on-demand or on subscription, relying on a fleet of more than 250.000 vehicles, equipped with the latest engines including an increasing share of electric vehicles.

Our brands address differentiated needs, use cases and expectations: Europcar® - a global leader of car rental and light commercial vehicle rental, Goldcar® - a frontrunner at providing low-cost car rental services in Europe, Ubeeqo® – one of the European leaders of car-sharing (BtoB, BtoC) and Fox-Rent-A-Car®, one of the main players in the car rental market in the US, with a "value for money" positioning.

Customers’ satisfaction is at the heart of the Group’s ambition and that of our more than 8,000 employees, everywhere we deliver our mobility solutions, thanks to a strong network in over 130 countries (including 16 wholly owned subsidiaries completed by franchisees and alliance partners).

More info: www.europcar-mobility-group.com

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