"Is Your Car Overweight?" Asks AAA.

AAA Provides Tips on How to Know If a Vehicle is Safely Loaded for the Holidays

BURNSVILLE, Minn. -- The car is fully loaded with passengers and luggage ready for the winter holiday weekend. There are five seat belts, five passengers and at least five pieces of luggage. So you're good to go, right? Not necessarily, because if your vehicle is overweight it could be potentially hazardous, according to the nation's largest organization for motorists.

Every vehicle has a manufacturer's recommended payload capacity that is the maximum combined weight of all cargo and passengers that can be safely carried, not including towing. Exceeding the payload capacity stresses the tires, shocks and springs; three parts of a vehicle that keep it under control and on the road, says Gail Weinholzer, director of public affairs, AAA Minnesota/Iowa.

Drivers can find out how many passengers and how much total weight their vehicle can safely carry by looking at the sticker on the driver-side door panel. For example, a 2005 Nissan Quest minivan can hold seven passengers and has a payload capacity of 1,200 lbs. If each of the passengers weighed 200 pounds, the vehicle would be considered overloaded even without luggage. A 2006 Toyota Corolla can hold five passengers with a payload capacity of 850 pounds. A 2007 Lincoln Town Car can hold five passengers with a payload of 1,100 pounds. A Mazda Miata can hold two passengers with a payload capacity of just 320 pounds.

An overloaded car is a safety hazard even if it is well-maintained. When a properly inflated tire is carrying too much weight it bulges at the bottom and the sidewalls can contact the pavement. As the tire rolls, the sidewalls flex up and down heating the tire and increasing the chance of sidewall or tread failure, and a potentially dangerous blowout.

"Built in safety mechanisms that help a driver maintain control at highway speeds won't work properly when supporting more weight than they were designed to carry, says Gail Weinholzer."

"In a turn or sudden swerve, an over-weighted vehicle will roll too far to the outside which causes the spring and shock system to rebound pushing the vehicle back to the inside. This condition creates a rocking effect similar to a ship on the sea that can make steering so difficult that a driver may loose control of their vehicle," adds Weinholzer.

AAA offers the following advice for motorists traveling with passengers over the winter holiday weekend:

* Check the sticker on the driver side door for the payload capacity of the vehicle.

* Consider renting a car if more payload capacity is needed.

* Be prepared for the vehicle to take longer to speed up, brake and steer when fully loaded with passengers and luggage.

* Limit the number of passengers to the number of seat belts.

* Limit any load on top of your vehicle to 18" high and no more than 100 pounds.

* Be careful not to overload the trunk or rear cargo compartment.

Motorists looking to prepare their vehicle for winter can locate a AAA Approved Auto Repair facility staffed with certified technicians by visiting the automotive page at www.AAA.com. AAA annually inspects and approves thousands of quality auto repair businesses across North America as a service to members and the public.

AAA members in need of roadside assistance may call on AAA anywhere in North America, 24 hours a day, and 7 days a week by calling 1.800.AAA.HELP or logging on to www.AAA.com.

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides nearly 50 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at www.AAA.com .

AAA offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than 49 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA Minnesota/Iowa is part of The Auto Club Group, with 4.1 million members in eight Midwest states.