Text-only version
About General Safety
How safe are rides at U.S. amusement parks and carnivals?
How much control do you have over your own safety when you're on a ride?
How many accidents are caused by equipment failure?
What are some red flags that should make you re-think riding a certain ride?
Why is it important to find the ride that fits?
Are today's high acceleration rides more dangerous than slower rides?
Modern roller coasters may look wilder than rides from the 60s and 70s, but they're not necessarily more dangerous. Improved restraint and track technology allow designers to push the envelope of extreme experiences while smoothing the ride and keeping riders more securely contained than older designs.
With that said, certain rides do have a rougher feel, and can have higher injury rates than other rides. Speeding, spinning vehicles and rapid changes of direction can apply significant stresses to the human body. The odds of injury from riding a thrill ride are very low for most people, but motion-related back/neck injuries and damage from impacting the containment system are the most frequently-reported ride-related injuries. High energy rides are designed for strong, healthy young adults and teens. If you have back, neck, bone, or joint problems, it's wiser to skip the wilder rides. For more information, visit the Acceleration section.
The industry blames most accidents on rider misconduct. Is this an accurate assessment?
About Child Safety
Are children at higher risk for injury on amusement rides?
What should parents know about choosing rides for children?
What safety lessons should parents teach children before visiting parks and carnivals?
When is it safe to let my child ride alone?
If my child is too short to ride alone, is it safe for him to ride with his older brother?
Who develops child safety standards for amusement rides?
About Data and Statistics
How many people are injured on U.S. amusement rides each year?
What is the most common cause of amusement ride accidents and injuries?
What are the most common types of injuries on go-karts, waterslides, and inflatables?
Where does Saferparks get its data and statistics?
Who generates the safety statistics quoted by the amusement park industry?
About Safety Oversight
What safety regulations apply to U.S. amusement rides?
What about the big parks like Disney World and Six Flags?
Who checks up on the carnivals that move around from place to place?
Why are amusement park rides exempt from federal safety oversight?
If signed into law, what would Congressman Markey's bill do?
If a park is already subject to state regulation, why is a federal layer of oversight important?
Why is it important that serious accidents be investigated by the government?
