Roller Coaster Federal Regulation Needed ?

GURPS

INGSOC
PREMO Member
The safety of summer thrills: Amusement park risks nearly impossible to know because of terrifying patchwork of state laws or almost no regulation


The Consumer Product Safety Commission lost its power to oversee parks in 1981, when Congress passed the so-called “roller coaster loophole.”

The legislation said “fixed site” amusement parks — the kind at one permanent location — do not count as consumer products, and therefore are not the federal government’s business.

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But the litany of laws thwarts full comprehension of the industry’s flaws.

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) is one of the few public officials leading the charge for national oversight. Starting in 1999 — after four people died in one week — Markey introduced a bill in six consecutive Congresses calling for Consumer Products to once again have jurisdiction over the industry. The bill died every year.

“It’s an issue that has simply never risen to the top of the agenda in Congress, in spite of these tragic accidents,” said Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), who co-sponsored the legislation.

Each time, the bill was opposed by the industry — which argued, in part, that the low number of deaths and serious injuries proved federal oversight was unnecessary.


Theme Parks are a multi-billion dollar business, do these people really think Disney, Ceder Fair and Six Flags are going to run unsafe rides ... they all have stock holders and lawsuits to face



Hackemer checked with park services for ride-safety instructions, according to a sheriff’s office report from that day. Then he and his 19-year-old nephew went to the Ride of Steel, which stands at 200 feet and at one point hits 73 mph.

Hackemer flew out of his seat sometime during the ride and died. He was 29.


never should have been allowed on the ride, given the restrain system there wasn't enough of him to keep him in the seat - ie his legs
 
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vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
If they really want to keep people safe and prevent deaths, they'd ban any activity outside your home. And homes themselves. And human bodies. And life. Why isn't the government doing something about this??

One death is one death too many.
 

BlueSunday

New Member
If they really want to keep people safe and prevent deaths, they'd ban any activity outside your home. And homes themselves. And human bodies. And life. Why isn't the government doing something about this??

One death is one death too many.

I agree, maybe they should make amusement parks death free zones?
 
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