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About General Safety
How safe are rides at U.S. amusement parks and carnivals?
The risk of injury to most adults and teens at most parks and carnivals is very low, assuming you follow the posted rules and operator instructions. Parents of younger children, the elderly, obese patrons, and those with pre-existing medical conditions or cognitive deficits should take special care when choosing and using amusement rides. For more information visit the Child Safety section and the pages on Age and Health and Riders With Disabilities.
Although the statistical odds of injury are low, the consequences of even a single accident can be catastrophic for the riders involved. Some amusement experiences are more risky than others. Be a careful consumer when choosing rides, particularly for children. If a ride looks poorly maintained or the operators appear distracted or your child looks like she's not well restrained, don't board the ride. No two-minute thrill is worth risking your life or your child's life.
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?
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?
