Safety Remains the Fundamental Priority for the Global Attractions Industry

“Safety is paramount in the attractions industry. IAAPA believes effective ride safety oversight begins with rigorous, internationally recognized standards, qualified inspections, and strong regulatory accountability. In the U.S. we support state-based oversight because it allows regulators to work directly with the attractions in their jurisdictions, while ASTM, EN, and ISO global safety standards provide a common technical foundation. Our focus is ensuring that every state has the resources, expertise and regulatory framework necessary to protect guests and continuously advance safety.” 

—Jakob Wahl, President and CEO, IAAPA

RIDE SAFETY

Safety is paramount throughout the attractions industry.

Guest safety is fundamental to everything our industry does. It is a shared responsibility among ride manufacturers, engineers, operators, inspectors and regulators. Safety is incorporated throughout the entire lifecycle of an attraction, from design and manufacturing to testing, daily operations, inspections and maintenance. IAAPA and its members are committed to maintaining rigorous safety practices and continuously improving industry standards.

Serious amusement ride injuries are rare, according to industry safety research.

Millions of guests enjoy amusement rides each year, and serious injuries remain statistically rare. According to the 2024 North America Fixed-Site Amusement Ride Safety Report, conducted by the National Safety Council for IAAPA, there were 0.78 injuries per million rides, with 8% of this classified as serious. While no activity is entirely without risk, these findings demonstrate the relatively low frequency of reported injuries. IAAPA and its members remain committed to continuously improving safety standards and practices, recognizing that every injury is one too much, and prevention remains our priority.

In fact, you’re more likely to be struck by lightning, attacked by shark, or killed in a commercial plane crash than to be seriously hurt on a theme park ride in the U.S., according to statistics from IAAPA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nonprofit Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers.

ASTM International establishes comprehensive, industry-recognized safety standards.

ASTM International is a nonprofit standards development organization that brings together volunteer members from industry who are technical experts to develop safety standards. Through an open, transparent, consensus-based process, F24 Committee on Amusement Rides and Devices, established in 1978, develops and maintains standards addressing amusement ride safety, including design, testing, inspection, maintenance, and operations. These standards provide a common technical foundation for the industry and are continually reviewed as technology and safety practices evolve. While ASTM develops the standards, state governments can incorporate them into law, making their requirements legally enforceable.

Inspections, maintenance and operator training are essential to everyday ride safety.

Safety does not begin and end with an annual inspection. Amusement rides require ongoing inspection, preventive maintenance, testing, and monitoring throughout their operational lives. Manufacturers establish technical and maintenance requirements, while operators are responsible for implementing those procedures, training employees, conducting routine inspections, and addressing identified issues. Qualified inspectors provide additional assessments, and state regulators oversee compliance within their jurisdictions. ASTM F770 specifically addresses ownership, operation, maintenance, inspection and training, reinforcing the importance of a comprehensive safety program that operates every day, not simply when a regulatory inspection takes place.

Continuous improvement and collaboration are essential to advancing ride safety.

The attractions industry is committed to learning, innovation, and the ongoing advancement of safety practices. IAAPA brings together manufacturers, operators, regulators, inspection organizations and standards-development bodies to share knowledge, strengthen safety programs and support effective regulation. We welcome constructive conversations with policymakers about improving ride safety and believe the most effective approach is to build on established technical standards, strengthen oversight where needed and ensure that safety remains a priority at every level of the industry.

REGULATORY OVERSIGHT

IAAPA supports strong state-based oversight of fixed-site amusement rides. 
Permanently installed amusement rides remain in one location throughout their operating lives, making state authorities well positioned for regular hands-on inspection and enforcement. IAAPA believes effective state-level oversight, supported by globally recognized ASTM standards, provides a strong framework for ride safety, and one that must continue to improve as standards and technology evolve.We believe the most effective path forward is building on the state programs already in place: strengthening them, ensuring regulators have adequate resources, and promoting consistent adoption of proven global safety standards.
 

Effective ride safety regulation requires consistent standards, accountability and enforcement.

While individual states may structure their oversight programs differently, IAAPA advocates for every state to implement the essential elements of an effective ride safety program. These include adoption of current ASTM standards, regular inspections, clear safety guidance for riders, incident reporting requirements, appropriate insurance coverage, and a designated regulatory authority with enforcement powers. Our focus is ensuring that every jurisdiction has the tools, expertise and authority necessary to oversee amusement rides effectively.
 

GLOBAL SAFETY STANDARDS

Global safety standards provide a foundation for ride safety around the world.
Ride safety is a global responsibility, supported by internationally recognized standards, including ASTM International's F24 standards, Europe's EN 13814 standards and ISO 17842. IAAPA actively supports the harmonization of these standards, bringing together leading engineers, manufacturers, operators, regulators and safety experts to align technical requirements and share best practices. These collaborative efforts help strengthen safety practices globally in using the best of all worlds. 

Decades of global operating experience contribute to continuous safety improvements.

Roller coasters and other amusement rides have safely carried billions of guests around the world over decades of operation. This extensive operational experience provides valuable insights that help manufacturers, engineers and operators continually refine ride designs, inspection procedures, operational processes and maintenance practices. Through established industry standards and the exchange of technical expertise, lessons learned are incorporated into evolving safety requirements.
 

THE NORTH AMERICA SAFETY REPORT HIGHLIGHTS

The 2024 North America Fixed-Site Amusement Ride Safety Report, produced in partnership with the National Safety Council (NSC), an independent nonprofit safety organization, shows an estimated 1.92 billion guest rides occurred in the USA and Canada during 2024.

• The vast majority of reported injuries were not classified as serious. In 2024, 8% of injuries were classified as serious, unchanged from 2023 and below the 10-year average of 10%.
   
• Respondents reported that guest behavior contributed to 66% of the injuries over the past year. Only 9% of the injuries, on average, were attributed to operational factors, and 15% to technical factors.
   
• In 2024, the total injury rate was 1.27 injuries per million rides. This means that there were fewer than 2 reported injuries for every 1 million rides taken.

Safety remains a fundamental priority for the global attractions industry. Through our longstanding partnership with the National Safety Council, IAAPA has tracked amusement ride safety trends for more than two decades. 

While the 2024 report shows modest increases in injury rates compared with 2023, the long-term data continues to demonstrate a gradual decline in injuries per million attendees. These findings reinforce the importance of ongoing safety monitoring, research, and continuous improvement across our industry.

Report Background:
IAAPA has conducted its Ride Safety Report annually since 2002, providing more than two decades of consistent industry safety data.