Category: Safety

Ride accident reporting still piecemeal, June 2026

A court in Greece has reportedly sentenced owners and liable personnel over a fatal injury in August 2024. The owner of a Halkidiki amusement park was sentenced to life in prison, with his co-owner/wife sentenced to 9 years for complicity, the certifying engineer to 13 years, and the ride operator to 6 years.

This post revisits an earlier topic of piecemeal reporting on ride accidents, and the impact on the general public who do not have time to scour the internet, laws, regulations, standards, and ride catalogs for more information.

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World’s Largest Swimming Lesson

2026 edition – June 25
locations worldwide!

Since 2010, “Team WLSL” from the aquatics industry has produced a worldwide day of swimming lessons. Taking place 2026 June 25, many local host locations including waterparks and other aquatic facilities will have learn-to-swim and water safety skills events. Tens of thousands of people will participate around the world. Look for an event near you.

Find a local event

Swimming lessons save lives.

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Paper: Safety evaluation of amusement rides using accumulated accident data: Accident data framework

Woodcock, K., 2022. Safety evaluation of amusement rides using accumulated accident data: Accident data framework. Journal of Themed Experience and Attractions Studies 2, 40-53. Link

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A mountain coaster is not a roller coaster

The case of an injury on the Branson Coaster

Like many reports covered in the RRRR database, multiple media reports used imprecise terminology that has real implications for potential misunderstanding of hazards to the public. While it is understandable that a reporter may not know the difference when beginning to collect information for a report, it is irresponsible to be cavalier about terminology in the published version. Any hazards that may be implicated in this case have no relevance to “roller coasters”.

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