So as said, agree to disagree, but for me, it is the same. Same as if you drive with bold tyres, defectuous brakes, etc.
I only changed tyres 2 days ago- so took Oh's car to drive down the other day. Or I would have taken the bus, or stayed at home. Being killed or maimed for life is not an option because of stupid tyres.
Spare us the self-righteous indignation if you're not even going to follow the rules you propose as being a criminal offence.
The current system puts all the liability on the driver while minimizing police involvement to check what tires are installed on the car. Why minimize checks? Because resources are not infinite and should be directed to the solutions that offer best investment/return ratio. If police only shows up where there's a crash and check tires, that's maybe the most efficient use of resources. If the fines emitted at that time are not enough deterrent, maybe increase the fine amount to make sure people takes it more seriously. But roadside checks to see if the tires are winter ones, looks like a waste of resources.
It's also not economically efficient is to ban on summer tires after X date. Why? With the existing system there are already long queues to get tires installed at the shops. Since I don't drive that much in the mountains I scheduled my change by mid November, already a month after the first scheduled tire change. No prob, maybe someone needed the winter tires more than me. If there's a hard deadline for winter tires, we would have to start 2 months earlier to change tires to ensure everyone complies with the law.That may cause the unintended consequence of driving with summer tires on hot asphalt which is unnecessary wear leading to wasting valuable resources.
I guess the current approach is OK. Maybe, just increase the consequences for people that could not keep the vehicle in control and caused a crash because wrong tires. It doesn't have to be money, just a few more months without driving license and suddenly skepticism goes away.
PS. JackieH, what were the consequences for your friend after causing the accident? Large fines, long time driving ban, jail time, paying economic compensation? I guess sharing that part of the story will have a larger impact on today's drivers.
don't be so obtuse - the roads were totally dry, and conditions could not change in 200m. Our other car had winter tyres on from beg of November- and we never use my car apart from very locally- when I am aware 100% of conditions day to day. If any doubt in November- used the other car, or bus.
Unless you walked the route in advance, with a thermometer, you couldn't possibly know, according to your own rules.
But yes, perhaps the rule should be, as planned for France next year, that mountainous regions, and above a certain altitude (500m? perhaps) will have winter tyres compulsory.
Using your judgement is all very fine- but with mountains (and the seas- even Swiss lakes) things can change very quickly. My friend 50 years ago drove down to Neuchâtel on a lovely sunny day, roads bone dry- but at the end of the day, when she picked me up to give me a lift, we drove home in a snow white out blizzard - and it was nearly fatal. (btw it was my 20th BD I spent in the hospital, still in traction, not my 21st. That was in a hospital in the UK a year later).
PS: Drive and ride safe. Enjoy the snow, be aware about its peril.
Wonderful out there- leave you to argue on EF lol
Tom
Yes, 2 petrol stations 200m away, one being a very good garage, and another excellent garage another 200m away.
Tom, sil and bil from UK got snow tyres for their big sport Mercedes when they drove over for Christmas a few years ago. They found the ride so much smoother and comfortable, and it really helped with his very bad back. They kept them on for that reason- and even got new winter tyres for the new Merc last year. They live in very leafy Surrey where snow is not an issue . My daughter also got some for her FPace as they come skiing once or twice a year- also from leafy Surrey- and keeps them on year round.
Tom