WASHINGTON, D.C. – In light of a horrific accident at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom Amusement Park, Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), again called for Congress to pass federal legislation closing a massive loophole in safety regulation of fixed-site theme park rides. Last month, Markey reintroduced the National Amusement Park Ride Safety Act, H.R. 2320, legislation that would extend federal oversight to cover fixed-site amusement park rides, which are currently exempt from federal consumer product safety laws and regulations.
“At the start of summer, it is tragic that this young person had to suffer such a horrible accident,” said Rep. Markey. “This tragic accident reinforces the urgent need for federal regulations on fixed site amusement park rides. How many more accidents, atrocities and amputations will it take before we take the needed steps to improve safety at amusement parks around the country? Strong federal action to close this loopy loophole is needed now.”

The nation’s leading safety agency, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), oversees the safety of carnival (“mobile”) rides, but a loophole prohibits the CPSC from overseeing the safety of park (“permanent”) rides. Markey’s legislation would allow the CPSC to perform its intended mission – preventing accidents before they occur by ensuring that safety corrections found necessary on one ride in one state are implemented on all similar rides in all states.

The National Amusement Park Ride Safety Act has been endorsed by Consumers Union, the Consumer Federation of America, the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, Saferparks.org, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group and Kids in Danger. Rep. Markey’s bill will close the special-interest loophole that prevents effective federal safety oversight of amusement park rides. It would restore to the CPSC the standard safety jurisdiction over “fixed-site” amusement park rides that it used to have before the Roller Coaster Loophole was created. Markey’s bill also authorizes appropriations of $500 thousand annually to the CPSC to carry out the additional responsibilities. It would restore CPSC’s authority to:

1. Investigate accidents;
2. Develop and enforce action plans to correct defects; and
3. Act as a national clearinghouse for accident and defect data.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 21, 2007

CONTACT: Jessica Schafer
202.225.2836