How safe are carnival rides?

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE)--Heading to a festival or fair, do you ever question the safety of the rides?  It's something that raises eyebrows for many visitors.  State officials and fair leaders said there are several precautions concerned visitors need to know about.

Dave Kobiela brought his grandson to the Allen County Fair Wednesday.  He said he would let his grandson ride some of the smaller kid rides, but wouldn’t dare get on the big ones.

“I'm sure they're safe but these don’t look like the safest rides that I've ever seen,” Kobiela said.

Concerns like that led NewsChannel 15 to go out asking, “Are the ride really safe?”  Allen County Fair President Jerry Hammon said they are.     

“It's crossed our minds many times,” Hammon said.  “But being that they're approved and they have to have that certificate every year, the fire marshal comes around to every festival or fair and puts his ok on them.”

The Allen County Fair began Tuesday.  Leaders with the company that brings the rides to Allen County showed NewsChannel 15 paperwork verifying that all of their rides have been inspected. 

Proof of inspection should be posted somewhere on every ride.  There's a state inspector who looks at all fair rides.

“What that says is our state inspector has been to that ride, they have observed the ride in that operation, and they have timed it to ensure that where the ride is within the manufacturer's recommendations of how fast it goes and the numbers of revolutions it makes,” said Indiana Fire Marshal Jim Greeson.

In previous years, officials have been forced to shut down certain carnival rides across Indiana.  They do that if they're alerted to a safety hazard on a ride (seatbelts, doors, etc.).  This year, officials said it's been a different story.

“It's been a very safe season actually,” Greeson said.  “We have had no major problems.”

Leaders say there are things you can do to make sure the rides remain safe.  First, look for that seal of inspection if you're at the rides.  If you can’t find it, ask the carnival worker to see it.  Also look for major safety issues like problems with seatbelts, doors, or even the carnival worker.  State leaders said if the ride doesn't seem safe, don't ride it.

If you witness any of these problems, you’re asked to call the amusement ride hotline at 1-888-203-5020.