FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, May 22, 2015

Christie Administration Issues Amusement Ride Safety Tips

 

As the Start of Summer Approaches, Department of Community Affairs Encourages Families to Review Amusement Rides Do's and Dont's 


Trenton, NJ – New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ (DCA) Commissioner Charles A. Richman is encouraging New Jerseyans to take a few minutes this spring season to review Amusement Ride Safety Do’s and Don’ts posted on the Department’s website.

“While New Jersey’s amusement parks, fairs and carnivals are some of the best in the country and have a very good safety record, we think it is imperative to remind people about the importance of proper rider behavior,” said DCA Acting Commissioner Richman. “Our engineering staff and ride inspectors in the Division of Codes and Standards do a great job ensuring rides are safe for operation, but riders must be cognizant as well. We just ask that people put safety first.”

Ride inspectors first urge that riders (and their parents or guardians) make sure they are comfortable with a ride before opting to get on it. They should always look for the posted State of New Jersey certificate of operation, which shows that a ride was inspected and passed the stringent safety regulations required by the State.

Additionally, riders are urged to:

  • Read and obey all written and verbal instructions, and observe all age, height and weight restrictions;
  • Fasten safety equipment such as seatbelts, shoulder harnesses and lap bars before the ride begins;
  • Keep limbs inside the ride at all times;
  • Stay in the ride and keep all safety equipment fastened until the ride comes to a complete stop and the ride operator instructs people to exit;
  • Refrain from throwing any object from a ride or behave in a reckless manner; and
  • Not enter a ride without the supervision of an operator.

Parents should take additional safety precautions for their children, especially small children, when participating in amusement rides or attractions. They should know their child’s capabilities and limitations with regard to whether the ride is appropriate for them and watch the ride in operation before deciding whether their child can ride it safely. Parents should also designate an easily recognizable place to meet their child after the ride is over and supervise their child at all times.

The NJ Carnival and Amusement Ride Safety Act establishes an annual ride safety inspection program. A manufacturer is required to have their ride design and assembly approved prior to its sale for operation in New Jersey. The owner of an amusement ride is required to register their ride by applying for an annual permit. The annual permit assures that scheduled annual inspections, set up inspections and random inspections during operation are performed throughout the year.

For the complete list of amusement ride safety tips, please log on to http://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/codes/forms/pdf_rides/are_you_ready_to_ride.pdf.

For more information on the Carnival and Amusement Ride Safety Act, please go to http://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/codes/codreg/pdf_regs/njac_5_14A.pdf.

CONTACT:
Tammori Petty or
Emike Omogbai
(609) 292-6055