Death at the fun fair !

From time to time we hear stories of unfortunate accidents leading to death when fun fair rides fail. Perhaps it is time to have a long, hard look at those rides and examine what safety factors are in place to keep them safe.
Fun fair rides have come a long way since the days of " the Merrymix ". This was a revolving platform containing wooden horses which rose and fell in tandem - and these days attracts only toddlers.
The urge for " thrill " has led to the design and construction of more complex rides which involve speed and sudden deceleration, a dangerous mix if something happens to go wrong.
These rides need inspection and approval at the time of manufacture, but what is concerning is the fact that they move from fair to fair - and these moves require the entire ride to be dismantled and reassembled. Each year the rides become more complex as they compete to provide the " shock " factor that attracts patrons.
Constant dismantling and reassembly must induce wear and tear, plus the danger factor of those doing this work becoming complacent and taking short cuts to save time.
Fun fair rides are likely to become even more complex as competition for customers increases and it is essential that they be kept safe by constant surveillance by the licensing authority responsible. This is not an area where the government can cut costs by reducing services !