FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, May 21, 2018

 

Department Encourages People to Put Safety First When Visiting Amusement Parks and Carnivals

Trenton, N.J. – In advance of the amusement and carnival ride season, Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), is encouraging New Jerseyans to review the Are You Ready To Ride? safety tips posted on the Department’s website. 

“New Jersey has among the best amusement ride safety records in the country thanks to DCA’s dedicated team of engineers and ride inspectors, but riders must do their part as well by always putting safety first,” said Lt. Governor Oliver. “Riders can find practical safety recommendations on our website that can easily be printed or saved to a smart phone for quick reference during visits to amusement parks, boardwalks, local fairs, and traveling carnivals.” 

First and foremost, DCA ride inspectors encourage riders (and their parents or guardians) to make sure they are comfortable with a ride before choosing to get on it. They should always look for the white “Permit Registration” stickers and green “Passed Inspection” stickers from the State of New Jersey, which show that a ride was permitted, inspected, and passed the State’s stringent safety regulations. 

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;
  • Secure all clothing and personal possessions such as phones, wallets, and purses;
  • 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 behaving in a reckless manner;
  • Enter or exit a ride only with the supervision of a ride operator;
  • Avoid horseplay around, on, or near a ride at all times;
  • Keep food, drinks, and cigarettes off the ride; and
  • Stay away from rides that have a red “Do Not Operate” sticker affixed to them. 

Parents or guardians should take additional safety precautions for children in their care, especially small children, when choosing an amusement ride or attraction. They should consider 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. Also, they should 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 more information on the Carnival and Amusement Ride Safety Act, visit http://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/codes/codreg/pdf_regs/njac_5_14A.pdf.

 

 

      

 

CONTACT:
Tammori Petty
or Lisa Ryan
(609) 292-6055