Fair Ground Ride accidents

[furie]

and also because of the fact that my stepdad (he's over six feet tall) went on a coaster at the fair last summer and the guy didn't check his height, and his head almost hit off of one of the supports. He actually had to duck to avoid them!

What kind of coaster? Travelling coasters are designed the same way park coasters are. They are tested for height clearances before being sold/opened.

The only coaster I've ever had a problem with is the Mouse at Blackpool. There's one support over the lift where it brushes my hair if I'm sat upright. If I was anything over six feet tall, it would catch my head.

On other coasters I've thought I may hit my head, but the clearance is actually much more than you imagine. I still duck, even knowing that I can't hit the supports (hence the reason it's called a "head chopper" element).

Unless it was a tiny kiddy coaster, there's no way he'll have actually been in danger. Though a Kiddy coaster should certainly have an enforced maximum height limit - though it's difficult to imagine anyone over six feet tall physically getting into one of those carriages

 

[Screaming Coasters]

I love fair rides because they are almost always way more intense than theme park rides.

Theres a reason why rides aren't run on full speed but fairs seem to ignore this.

Erm, no. It's because they have different target audiences.

Parks are a family thing... hence the rides not being put on full power.

LOL, you're funny.
So you're telling me Samuria is run at a slower speed because Thorpe is a family park? You clearly haven't worked in the industry.

In the manufacturers manual, it recommends the optimum running speed so that you get full usage and reliability out of your equipment. Thats why fairground accidents usually happen, because the operators tend to ignore this.

Also, can we stop calling the stickers "insurance disks"...? it's nothing to do with insurance. They're just proof of inspection. It doesn't "insure" anybody to my knowledge. It's just that without one, you're open to an arse-raping from the Health and Safety Executive.

ADIPS is just an inspection and the disks are just a proof of this, yes, but without it you can't apply for insurance so therefore, it sort of is a proof of insurance. Without it, the ride can't operate and it IS a legal requirement to display them on your control window, facing outwards. I learnt this when my folks owned Treasure Island and when working in Engineering at Chessington.

 

[marc]

If people maintain their rides they should be able to run them as they want, go to a German fair and tell me their rides are not on a high setting. They are well looked after all the parts are there including engine covers, the rides are also spotless.

One ride alone was on for over 8 mins, you would get 2 mins in a theme park.

Erol I know what your saying but there have been just as many accidents as of late at theme parks and not fairs. Bits falling off rides at Thorpe, wheels coming of coasters in China etc.

 

[Screaming Coasters]

Ah yes, too true, Marc.

It's not illegal in any way to operate at full setting but not it's recommended, especially when amusement operators don't look after their attraction accordingly. The way a park is inspected is slightly different tot he way a fairground is inspected.

Local councils inspect rides at a fairground and they aren't necessarily aware of the documents needed for the safe operation of a ride. A theme park is inspected by ADIPS or equivalent, they are official and they themselves provide documents.

 

[marc]

The thing is alot of fair grounds do look after their rides, as if the ride is down they dont get any money.

Theme parks get their money even if a ride is down.

I persoanlly think a fair is just as safe as a theme park, and at a fair I can go on older rides at a better setting.

Thats my view on it.

 

[Martyn B]

LOL, you're funny.
So you're telling me Samuria is run at a slower speed because Thorpe is a family park? You clearly haven't worked in the industry.

In the manufacturers manual, it recommends the optimum running speed so that you get full usage and reliability out of your equipment. Thats why fairground accidents usually happen, because the operators tend to ignore this.

He could be right Richie. Take Fantasy Island for example, eveyone goes on about the Beast being the best Top Scan etc, and why is that? Because its run on insane settings.

In the summer of 2007 AND 2008 the Beast needed to have its gear box replaced...


Anyway, that is quite a shocking accident really, not as bad though as that spinny ride that collapsed.

 

[costar]

The thing is alot of fair grounds do look after their rides, as if the ride is down they dont get any money.

Theme parks get their money even if a ride is down.

Hehe, well, there's two ways to spin that Marc... I would say that a because a fair doesn't get any money for broken rides, they cut more corners to get them up and running. A theme park gets the revenue anyway so they can afford to wait for that spare part or that inspection report to come through.

I take your point about the German fairs though, I've got no hard facts but I get the impression their safety record is pretty good. In the UK though, I'm siding with a permanent site evey time I'm afraid.

 

[dj-fireball999]

Hmm... I rarely ever go on rides at the fair...

They always make me wanna throw up!

If I wanted to spin around and vomit, I can do it at home and save money :--D

The fair that Visits Cheltenham, (Billy Danters Funfair) is actually very safe by the looks of things, and their rides are always well maintained, so I have no complaints