An amusement park security expert is calling for federal oversight of amusement park rides following the FreeFall incident in Orlando, where a 14-year-old fell from a ride and died. Thierry Samson, 14, died after falling from the Orlando FreeFall on March 24 in Orlando, Florida at ICON Park. While Florida regulates amusement park rides, there are still some states that have not regulated amusement park rides and there are currently no federal regulations on routes. Brian Avery, University of Florida A lecturer and driving safety expert, he told Fox News Digital this is something that needs to change. “This was videotaped and, you know, it resonates with the public saying, ‘OK, stop, something needs to change. We have standards and practices and anything else that could actually address it to prevent it. Why And I Think “That’s why we are at this point where we are asking why we do not have federal oversight,” Avery said. FREE FLIGHT TRAGEDIES IN FLORIDA: STATE ORGANIZATION RECRUITS A PHYSICAL ENGINEER TO INVESTIGATE DEATH IN VEGETABLE PARK The Orlando Free Fall Tower in ICON Park, Orlando, Florida, is pictured on March 28, 2022. 14-year-old Tire Sampson was killed when he fell from a walk last week. (Orlando Sentinel via Getty) Avery noted that mobile amusement parks have some regulations from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, but said fixed routes to amusement parks do not. Senator Ed Markey, D-Mass., Backed legislation in 2007 that would give the commission federal oversight of fixed-line safety at the amusement park, but it was not approved. Avery said that while some organizations are doing a good job of self-regulation and have an interest in keeping people safe, there is resistance to federal oversight. FREE FALL TRAGEDIES IN FLORIDA: THE CENTER OF FREE FALLS WAS BUILT IN DECEMBER Tire Sampson (FOX 35 Orlando) “There is a belief that, you know, some people do it better than others. So why do I have to comply with some kind of federal oversight when I’m doing a pretty good job on my own,” Avery said. Avery said ASTM International publishes industry safety standards for amusement rides, adding that some amusement parks have partially adopted their standards, some have fallen below that, saying “we need a baseline”. “I’ll endorse most of the larger parks that go beyond ASTM anyway, but there are others that do not and fall short of those standards. And I think it would be wise to have at least a minimum consensus on the standards. “At the federal level, so that everyone knows, no matter what state you are in. These are the basics you need to follow,” Avery said. FLOOD FLOWING TEENAGER DEATH FLORIDA: DRIVING SAFETY SPECIAL CABLE “DID NOT OPEN CORRECTLY” Tourists enjoy walks and amenities at ICON Park in Orlando on Thursday 24 March 2022. (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel) He said state regulation of amusement parks is currently “hit or miss” and said some services in charge of regulating amusement parks may not be qualified to do so. Some reactions could lead to the sharing of traffic safety incident data, Avery said, adding that some amusement parks may be reluctant to share this information because it could “pull some patrons” away from doing these rides. but he said he should not. is not a reason to avoid federal regulations. FLOOD FLOWING TEENAGER DEATH FLORIDA: DRIVING SAFETY SPECIAL CABLE “DID NOT OPEN CORRECTLY” The Wheel at ICON Park is on the left, the Orlando SlingShot in the middle and the Orlando FreeFall on the right. A 14-year-old boy died after falling from the Orlando FreeFall on March 24. (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel) “I do not think long-term gains offset the short-term heartburn that some people will experience in this process, because I think in the end, you would be more consistent, we would have a set of standards that we can all live on,” Avery said.
