Ferris Wheel Accidents at Carnivals Are Difficult to Prevent | DENENA | POINTS

Ferris Wheel Accidents at Carnivals Are Difficult to Prevent

The ferris wheel is one of the most recognized carnival rides, and has been around for many decades.  Although it can’t compete with high-speed roller coasters for sheer excitement, there is an appeal to ferris wheels that many cannot resist.

However, this does not meant that ferris wheels are any safer than high speed rides, since they may lack the safety measures to keep riders safe.  Regardless of the speeds involved, amusement park owners owe the same duty of care to riders on a ferris wheel, and can be held liable if they failed to provide safety restraints or warnings of possible hazards.

Here are a few examples of ferris wheel accidents from around the world:

  • A boy fell from a ferris wheel in Phoenix for 15-30 feet until he hit the ground.  His injuries required him to be hospitalized although he survived.   He was climbing down the support arms of the ferris wheel when he lost his grip and fell.
  • A girl was left dangling from a ferris wheel in Nepal after standing up in the basket and then losing her balance.  Employees climbed up the structure of the ferris wheel and rescued her.
  • Two children were injured in Michigan when their ferris wheel basket tipped, sending them to the ground. There were no safety bars or restraints, and the boy, 8 years old fell out of the seat and hit the ground.  His sister, age 16 also fell while trying to save him.  Both children were seriously injured, but survived the accident.

Many Ferris Wheels Lack Safety Restraints

Several of these accidents could have been prevented by more secure safety restraints, or those that cannot be undone by riders.  A simple seatbelt or lap bar can be removed, and in many cases the riders release themselves and then stand up or start moving around.  The slow speed of a ferris wheel give the impression that it is completely safe, and an accident seems hard to imagine for riders. 

A part of the problem is that the only thrill aspect of the ferris wheel is the height, and the sensation of ascending and descending in a smooth manner.  For riders who are used to modern thrill rides, the ferris wheel may seem boring, and they try to enhance the experience through standing up or even climbing down the support structure of the ferris wheel.

This is difficult to prevent if the safety restraints are ‘rider optional’ and can be easily removed.  Ferris wheels like all amusement park rides are subject to inspection, but it seems most accidents occur as a result of rider poor judgment or inability to sit still.  Every ferris wheel should have some type of restraint, or there is a persistent risk of a fall.  Young children especially should be accompanied by an adult who can keep them in the basket, and there should be warning signs about standing up, moving around or removing safety restraints.