On August 31, a U.S. News reporter rode the Volcano, a hanging coaster at Kings Dominion that sends riders up a steep incline, then shoots them through loops and curves at speeds up to 70 mph. It's not supposed to go backward, the reporter thought. But the backward return is exactly what the ride is programmed to do in an emergency, says a spokeswoman. Parks may log such incidents internally but do not have to inform authorities. No one was officially given jurisdiction over fixed-site parks, so authority fell to whatever state or local office was willing to take it on.
Some states inspect rides regularly and require accident reports.
In others, private insurers conduct inspections. Florida lets Disney World inspect itself because it has over 1,000 employees. Alabama, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Vermont have no inspection requirements. After the summer fatalities, Ann Brown, chairwoman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, wants the federal government to play a stronger role. This week, Massachusetts Rep. Ed Markey will introduce a bill in the House to restore CPSC authority over fixed-site parks.