The Gold Country Fair is back in town along with corn dogs, caramel apples, games, and the rides.  With recent carnival ride accidents occurring in the news, are these rides really safe?

Fairgoers may be eager to ride these rides but do they take a second to think about their safety in the hands of those running the rides?

According to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), there are approximately 30,000 injuries requiring medical treatment per year from amusement park accidents in the United States.

“I do not think riders are very safe after my personal experience,” said Placer freshman Kaden Singh. “I rode on a ride similar to the Wonder Woman ride at Six Flags just a lot smaller. What happened was it swung back and forth and it tipped a little bit and then everyone got off. It was definitely scary.  Ever since that, I have been very iffy about carnival rides.

Placer social science teacher Amanda Roberts had a different opinion.

“They’re pretty safe if you follow the regulations but sometimes people find ways to make their little ones look taller for the ride even though height is for safety reasons.”

The IAAPA reports that the probability of being injured while visiting an amusement park is approximately one in 24 million.  Because the odds of getting hurt are so uncommon, most fair-goers are not really worried about the risk.

For those willing to take the chance, the Gold Country Fair starts on September 7th and ends on September 10th. Tickets for the fair will cost around 5-8 dollars besides the one 4-day ticket that costs 38$, The unlimited-day wristbands cost 30$. It will cost an additional $10 just to get in. People who want to ride all day can buy all-day wristbands for the rides for unlimited use.