Community Forums

chawkins99 · 03-26-2013, 07:26 AM

I know this has been kicked around a lot on these forums but is it not time to make TPMS compulsory on all big rigs? Much the same as seat belts, air bags, ABS, etc.
On our latest trip out, while travelling I-22 in Alabama, we were passed by a Fedex truck with a flat which proceeded to disintegrate when they were about 50 ft past us, showering us with rubber. We slowed down but he continued blissfully unaware at about 75mph and vanished over the horizon.
About 100 miles later, the same truck passed us again (still at 75mph) now with just the beads left on that wheel. Clearly, he had stopped for something and either ignored or never checked his tires.
I have just purchased the TST TPMS and will have it fitted before our next outing.
I realize that there would need to be a standard for these systems so one system will work with different trailers but surely that's not rocket science.
So what is the concensus?

Ed-Sommers · 03-26-2013, 08:39 AM

Required by whom? You? And while doing that, what other regulation could be thrown into the mix?

Ed

greezykid · 03-26-2013, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed-Sommers

Required by whom? You? And while doing that, what other regulation could be thrown into the mix?

Ed

I'm with you

Tony Lee · 03-26-2013, 08:53 AM

First step is to develop a system that will work reliably on big rigs - and that would have to include all configurations. From my own experience and reading the forums, there is still a long way to go to reach the required reliability level.

The other consideration that regulators DO have to consider is the return on investment in terms of lives/injuries saved per dollar, how would one ensure compliance and what sanctions could be used.

I suspect that there are other far more important things to worry about before TPMS is considered - driver drug and alcohol use, seatbelt use, driver distractions, preventative safety maintenance, speed limiting/monitoring being just a few that probably have quite poor levels of compliance despite regulations

laj · 03-26-2013, 09:00 AM

more rules just because of one idiot. and you think he would pay attention to that when didn't notice it physically. no thanks. i'm with them

jzick · 03-26-2013, 10:53 AM

Yep, we need more federal regulations. We don't have nearly enough.

Sky_Boss · 03-26-2013, 11:03 AM

I said yes.

I also would go one step further and require loose lug nut indicators too. Having seen a tire ejected in front of me because of loose lugs made me a believer. Granted, I would want them to be aesthetically pleasing too.

spritz · 03-26-2013, 11:06 AM

TPMS what is this?

greezykid · 03-26-2013, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sky_Boss

, I said yes.

I also would go one step further and require loose lug nut indicators too. Having seen a tire ejected in front of me because of loose lugs made me a believer. Granted, I would want them to be aesthetically pleasing too.

Don't we have enough laws regulating us?

TheArnolds · 03-26-2013, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sky_Boss

I said yes.

I also would go one step further and require loose lug nut indicators too. Having seen a tire ejected in front of me because of loose lugs made me a believer. Granted, I would want them to be aesthetically pleasing too.

Sky Boss,

As much as I would like to you can't regulate stupid out of existence. I read on an RV forum where a person had a Tire monitor installed, it failed, and the RV hit the center divider distorting the RV and causing major harm to the people inside.

**CLIFFTALL** · 03-26-2013, 11:50 AM

Some posts have been edited as attacking other members points of view is against our rules. One of our most important rules here is " be nice ". We will also edit any reference to any Government programs that aren't RV related. Thanks for understanding. Cliff

Mojavian · 03-26-2013, 12:01 PM

Answer: If the tech behind the TPMS is solid, yes. I have had a bullet-proof factory TPMS working on my Ridgeline since new. Our Jeep Liberty, now in possession of my younger daughter, also has an OEM system that works, albeit not as well as the Honda. My motorcycle has a great system, works fine.

I am not sure what the current state of the art is when it comes to Tractor-trailers; no point in mandating something that will not work. On the flipside, the trucking industry causes a great deal of damage in this country every year with blown tires and carcasses left on the road. They are a great danger to motorcyclists and present a significant hazard when people have to dodge them at high speeds. Also, tax money has to be used to pay people to go out there on the road risking their necks to pick the alligators up. So yeah, fine by me if they mandate them.

Francesca · 03-26-2013, 12:14 PM

It's already required for "light" vehicles due to the fact that the vast majority of tire failures are due to improper inflation.

The same people that don't check the air in their car tires also drive RV's...so I don't understand why RV's are excluded in the first place-

demoon · 03-26-2013, 01:50 PM

Can we see the trucking lobby rearing up on this one? Think of all the trailers that would have to be outfitted. It's not like the same tractor pulls the same trailer day after day in many cases. That Fedex guy may have been hauling that trailer for the first time. Tomorrow it is another driver's headache. Not that it excuses him from being an idiot not to notice his problem. I know one company in our area that uses twice as many trailers as they do tractors. Half are being loaded/unloaded while the other half is on the road. It just isn't going to happen, at least not with current technology.