‘Who’s watching those in these organizations?’: Experts and policymakers look to close ‘loophole’ regulations on park rides following Six Flags’ death
In the U.S., roller coasters and other rides at major amusement parks such as Six Flags are not regulated by the federal government.
The recent death of Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, following an ejection from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia has sparked a debate over the safety of increasingly fast and steep amusement park rides. While such incidents are extremely rare, the tragedy has prompted calls from experts and policymakers to close what is seen as a "loophole" in regulations governing stationary amusement park rides.
Six Flags has temporarily closed nine similar coasters across North America in the wake of the incident, citing an abundance of caution. The ride manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard, is conducting an investigation but has not commented further until they have more information.
The United States has a fragmented regulatory system for amusement park rides, with states responsible for oversight rather than federal authorities. This has led to inconsistencies in rules, with some states having strict regulations and others having little oversight. U.S. Senator Ed Markey has introduced legislation to address this issue, calling for federal regulation of stationary rides.
Experts argue that more federal regulations are needed to ensure the safety of these rides, particularly given the speed and steepness of modern attractions. Brian Avery, an amusement ride safety expert at the University of Florida, emphasizes the need for oversight to ensure that ride operators are adequately trained and compliant with safety standards.
Georgia's Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner is conducting a thorough review of the incident at Six Flags. The amusement park industry generally adheres to ASTM standards, which cover design, construction, and rider safety. Dennis Speigel, a theme park consultant and former president of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, states that theme parks are among the safest places to be due to multiple layers of inspections.
The chance of being seriously injured on a U.S. amusement park ride is estimated at 1 in 15.5 million rides. Amusement park operators rely on various safety features, including lap restraints with multiple disks for redundancy and a pre-start safety system that checks for properly locked restraints. However, despite these precautions, incidents still occur.
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