Comments on: Government Requires Tire Monitors for all 2008 Cars

By: Gary and the Samoyeds

Gary and the Samoyeds — Thu, 07 Apr 2005 21:51:02 +0000

Reading the article, I note that the "consumer" groups filed the lawsuit not to add this feature, but to prevent the NHTSA from allowing the practically free (if you have ABS or traction control) method based on tire rotation speed. My 1997 Pontiac (certainly not an exotic) had the latter feature. So, it's not "will the extra $100 save more lives than not having this feature costs?" but "will the extra $100 save more lives than a system which is nearly as good but costs essentially zero in any modern car." I really think they are more interested in making cars as expensive as possible to keep the "little people" from having them, so the roads are clear for their Volvos and Prii.

By: ScottJ

ScottJ — Thu, 07 Apr 2005 19:50:18 +0000

I guess this is better than legislating that you must check your tire pressure twice a month or face civil charges ( or criminal charges if you have an accident related to your tires). We should use the technology where it fits.

My real concern is that this is the type of precedent that will allow mandatory gps type tracking of specific vehicles and subsequent taxation on mileage or other big brother style intrusions into our lives.

By: Bachbone

Bachbone — Thu, 07 Apr 2005 19:15:58 +0000

All it takes to maintain tire pressure is a $.49 air guage and 5 minutes of your time twice a month. Government regulations have still not targeted the one thing that causes most accidents: the nut holding the steering wheel.