Amusement park/carnival rides: Ohio State Fair death

[LEDetailng]

First, my thoughts go out to the families and friends of those involved in the fair ride injuries and death.

My mother instilled in me at a young age never to ride carnival rides. I always thought she was being overbearing and protective. As I grew older and took notice of how carnival rides (especially traveling carnival rides) were assembled, disassembled, transported and maintained. It made me realize that you are taking a huge leap of faith when you strap yourself or loved one into one of these rides. These rides are mechanical machines that involve huge amounts of energy and force.

We strap ourselves onto/into the portion of these rides that experience some of the greatest amount of force. All in the name of, thrill seeking, stomach churning, excitement. Just like any mechanical machine these fair rides will have failures. Just keep this in mind next time you or a loved one head to a carnival.

[trashmanssd]

It doesnt take but a few minutes of looking around at the employees of most of these traveling state/county fairs/carnivals to realize there is now way in heck I would trust my life in there hands. I am not even real comfortable putting my life of the hands of Disney and Six Flags but at least they are large corporations with good safety and maintenance plans and with reputations they fear tarnishing with these types of accidents.

[DBAILEY]

That`s very unfortunate. That happened here in NC at the State Fair a few years ago. The ride operator went to jail. Not the ride owner. He defeated some safety mechanism to keep the ride running. I think it was a ride called the Vortex.

[Angus]

My father in-law was the head electrician at our local Great Adventure- he never ever let my wife or her sisters growing up go on traveling carnival rides. Sadly as proven again yesterday, those rides just aren`t safe.

[The Driver]

I`ll stick with a fast car I do maintenance on, more fun and less risk.

[House of Wax]

Just spent today at Six Flags Great America and was talking about this with my brother in law....made the comment that all these things are machines, and all machines fail at some point.