Size Mismatch Between Patron and Ride

Many ride-related accidents are caused by a poor fit between the patron and the ride.

Photo by Worchester Telegram&Gazette

• Small children are injured more often than larger riders because the lap bars and other restraint systems often don't fit closely enough against their bodies to hold them in place. Young children may slide down under the lap bar or pull their feet up onto the seat, putting them into a position where they are at risk of ejection.
• A child who isn't closely contained by the restraint may become frightened at the feeling of instability, or confused as the ride comes to a temporary stop, and try to stand up or leave the ride.
• Ride designers often employ bracing points rather than barrier restraints to keep riders from sliding into unsafe positions during turns or drops on rides that have smaller accelerations. A common example is bracing with the feet to maintain an upright position during turns. Young children oftentimes cannot reach the floor with their feet on full-sized rides, and this puts them at higher risk of sliding into an unsafe position.
• When children ride together on spinning rides or rides with sharp turns, the lateral acceleration can cause the smaller child to be pressed into the larger riders. If this feels uncomfortable, or if the older child yells at the smaller child, the smaller child may react instictively by standing up or moving away into an unsafe position.
• Lap bars and lap belts don't protect overweight riders as well as riders of median weight.  Several highly-publicized ejections of overweight riders have occurred on extreme thrill rides in the last few years. Seat belts tend to fasten over thighs instead of laps on heavier riders and lap bars lock in a more vertical position, making it possible for the rider's body to be propelled out from underneath the lap bar on rides that induce negative accelerations.  Obese riders should choice rides with restraints that fit securely, and avoid rides with steep drops if they do not have over-the-shoulder restraints. 
• Thin patrons are at higher risk for injury on some rides because they don't have as much neck strength to withstand strong forces, or enough padding on their bodies to cushion against the restraint system.  In 2001, the normal motion of an Alabama carnival ride broke the neck of a 15-year-old girl who weighed just over 100 pounds.
• Very tall patrons should be cautious about choosing amusement rides.  Many ride designers assume a patron range within the 5th to 95th percentile for height.  Ask whether the ride has been tested for patrons of your height.
• For more information on hazard patterns, see Saferparks' report on Falls/Ejections.

Note:  Serious accidents related to rider's size, such as those mentioned in this section, are rare, but patrons who fall into those categories should use extra caution in choosing rides that are safe for their body types.