EU Makes Tyre Pressure Monitors Compulsory

Thursday, 2. September 2010

: Image via Wikipedia

As if by magic, after writing the earlier gadget of the week article, I immediately read about the car manufacturers up in arms because the EU has just added another item of safety technology to their growing list of compulsory fitments, you guessed it Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS). They feel it is unnecessary and adds around £250 to the cost of the car (methinks they should pop down to Maplins). Whilst the manufacturers argue the toss over whether this addition will actually save lives the EU has said it will be compulsory from November 2011 so I guess it will happen. A more important directive in my opinion is the fitting of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) also known as ESP from November 2011, now this system, which is expected to add around £430 to the cost of a car, actually does save lives. From February 2011 daytime running lights must also be fitted on all new cars. These introductions should reduce road deaths by a half, according to the EU. What are your thoughts about the safety devices or the fact that they are imposed by the EU? Let me know. By Graham Hill