Do you think funfairs are safe?
Poll: Do you think funfairs are safe?
Total Members Polled: 166
Discussion
I'm not a physical coward. I've done a lot of rockclimbing, jumped out of airplanes, and done other stuff that many would consider dangerous.
But I've never been a fan of rollercoasters or funfair rides. They've always felt a bit risky to me, a feeling that has been reinforced by the news that four people were hospitalised on Saturday after a funfair ride "malfunctioned" (which must be the leading candidate for Understate of the Year).
I know that millions of people go on these rides every year and only a handful are injured but the prospect of suffering "life-changing injuries" (or even dying) because of a mechanical failure (or someone's negligence) just puts me off.
Am I the only one?
But I've never been a fan of rollercoasters or funfair rides. They've always felt a bit risky to me, a feeling that has been reinforced by the news that four people were hospitalised on Saturday after a funfair ride "malfunctioned" (which must be the leading candidate for Understate of the Year).
I know that millions of people go on these rides every year and only a handful are injured but the prospect of suffering "life-changing injuries" (or even dying) because of a mechanical failure (or someone's negligence) just puts me off.
Am I the only one?
Nope you aren't the only one.
Whilst I'm not a fan of these kind of rides as such, I am perfectly happy to go on a rollercoaster or any ride at a decent theme park such as Thorpe Park, Alton Towers etc (although there was that Smiler ride issue a few years back), when it comes to fun fairs, not that I go to them now, I am a flat "nope not doing that".
To me it is the fact that they are portable and put up in a day, to me that just doesn't instill confidence in me that they are safe and then I worry if they are subject to the same kind of daily checks that theme park rides get.
It may be an irrational thought but that thought is still there.
Whilst I'm not a fan of these kind of rides as such, I am perfectly happy to go on a rollercoaster or any ride at a decent theme park such as Thorpe Park, Alton Towers etc (although there was that Smiler ride issue a few years back), when it comes to fun fairs, not that I go to them now, I am a flat "nope not doing that".
To me it is the fact that they are portable and put up in a day, to me that just doesn't instill confidence in me that they are safe and then I worry if they are subject to the same kind of daily checks that theme park rides get.
It may be an irrational thought but that thought is still there.
One only has to look at the boffins running funfairs to know that they're entirely safe.
I regularly see bespectacled funfair personnel with clipboards checking and double checking the load factors - they know what they're doing. In addition, they run the most stringent safety checks - failure to do so could result in funfair dismissal.
I regularly see bespectacled funfair personnel with clipboards checking and double checking the load factors - they know what they're doing. In addition, they run the most stringent safety checks - failure to do so could result in funfair dismissal.
As stated above, there's a world of difference between Alton Towers and a travelling funfair.
I have been on Smiler multiple times since they had the accident and absolutely love it, like all the thrill rides at major theme parks. Would I go on something similar at a travelling funfair - not a chance.
I have been on Smiler multiple times since they had the accident and absolutely love it, like all the thrill rides at major theme parks. Would I go on something similar at a travelling funfair - not a chance.
My rule of thumb is:
Anything permanently mounted - Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, DisneyWorld, etc - fine by me. Permanent structure, checks, etc.
Mobile funfair - something erected in some field somewhere by God-knows-who with God-knows-what before being dismantled and then transported to another field somewhere...........No.
Anything permanently mounted - Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, DisneyWorld, etc - fine by me. Permanent structure, checks, etc.
Mobile funfair - something erected in some field somewhere by God-knows-who with God-knows-what before being dismantled and then transported to another field somewhere...........No.
BoRED S2upid said:
I think there’s a big difference between fund fair and the likes of Disney. You see these funfairs set up on scraps of land and I’m thinking these things haven’t been serviced for 20 years.
The fact that the rides are assembled and dismantled every few days or so means that they do actually get a fairly good inspection, if the people doing the work know what they are looking at. As most of these rides are operated by extended families, it is in all their interests to make sure they do the job properly, so I would expect pretty good on the job training from those more experienced to the lesser so.There so seem to be plenty of opportunities for single point failures causing severe accidents with fairground rides, however the safety factors used on components are probably much larger than on a car or aeroplane.
Static fairgrounds are probably more hazardous, as failing components could go unnoticed if the rigorous inspection schedule isn't followed by a rogue employee.
Muzzer79 said:
My rule of thumb is:
Anything permanently mounted - Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, DisneyWorld, etc - fine by me. Permanent structure, checks, etc.
Mobile funfair - something erected in some field somewhere by God-knows-who with God-knows-what before being dismantled and then transported to another field somewhere...........No.
^^This 100%Anything permanently mounted - Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, DisneyWorld, etc - fine by me. Permanent structure, checks, etc.
Mobile funfair - something erected in some field somewhere by God-knows-who with God-knows-what before being dismantled and then transported to another field somewhere...........No.
There's a travelling funfair currently set up covering a narrow field near me. A field that only a few weeks ago Southern Water dug up to run a new large bore pipe through, so I'm surprised they've been allowed to set up on the same ground so soon considering do we know how well the trench has been backfilled / ground settlement issues etc.
Actual regulated theme parks no issue.
Actual regulated theme parks no issue.
Alton towers, Chessington etc. Maybe - they have a fairly good safety record.
Travelling set up on the local field, not so much. Near where I work we regularly have a funfair set up, and it's built over the course of a couple of days by some teenage "scrap metal merchants". I used to go on them as kid, even up to my late teens - but I wouldn't any more.
Based on what I see with the one that sets up near where I work, there are plenty of parents who are happy to stick there kids on the rides, and plenty more teenagers queueing up too.
Travelling set up on the local field, not so much. Near where I work we regularly have a funfair set up, and it's built over the course of a couple of days by some teenage "scrap metal merchants". I used to go on them as kid, even up to my late teens - but I wouldn't any more.
Based on what I see with the one that sets up near where I work, there are plenty of parents who are happy to stick there kids on the rides, and plenty more teenagers queueing up too.
Motorman74 said:
Alton towers, Chessington etc. Maybe - they have a fairly good safety record.
Not great...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incidents_at_Europea...
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