Now we have a tire nanny
New Camera Issues Tire Tread Tickets
Tire tread measuring system promises to mail tickets to motorists for tire tread that is a fraction of an inch too short.
Now that speed cameras use is established in Europe and parts of the US, the concept of automated ticketing is beginning to expand far beyond moving violations. Already, automated ticketing machines are deployed in the US to hit vehicles that overstay in a parking spot by a minute or that have excessive tailpipe emissions. The newest addition to this growing list is camera that scans the tires of passing cars and mails tickets if the depth of the tire tread is deficient by a fraction of an inch. Although not currently deployed, the German company ProContour hopes to sell this system to state and local governments looking for a way out of tight budget situations with a positive, pro-safety message.
“Car tires are technically, the number one cause of car accidents in Germany,” ProContour states on its website. “An average of four car accidents occur daily with personal injuries as the result of smooth or defective tires.”
European Union regulations authorize the imposition of a fine of up to 100 Euro (US $160) whenever the tread depth of one of a vehicle’s four tires measures less than 1.6mm (0.06 inches). In Germany, drivers can also be ticketed for using tires that are “unsuitable.” This means using a summer tire during the winter season carries a stiff fine – ProContour hopes that fine will be automated.</em>
Whew! Dunno about you, but tread depth has been keeping me up nights. Glad to see somebody stepped up to find a solution to the “problem”.
