This IS a problem WE all face, accidents, public behaviors, public opinions and attitudes; they affect good shows as well as bad. Any accident is going to be front page and 6 o’clock news. If it bleeds, it leads. But then again (I wish I knew which thread) there were two “good” news stories posted on the board lately. Did someone take a few extra minutes with a reporter and give him a story to bring back besides the “a ride similar to this one killed a child in xxxx”? Do most shows you can think of have safety programs, akin to other industries? Was this OBVIOUS to the last reporter that was on your lot?
How much green help does your show use, in other industries do you think it common that an employee has 15 minutes training and is turned loose to drive a bus or bulldozer? (OK, small bus or bulldozer) Is checking the brakes and steering on that bus something the mechanic does if he has a chance, when he gets back from doing laundry.
Lets face it WE can protect OURSELVES by doing (or not doing) the things above, but when someone else doesn’t, it is WE that takes the shot in the paper or on the news. It’s the shot in the news that causes increased regulation and costs. I have already heard some with the Windshear talk about “They should have been watching their ride closer”. This is a known case of more than one person going out of their way to sneak around the safety precautions that were in place and working. This is also a show I know is good and cares about its rides and safety.
The standards WE, are and will be held to are only getting stricter, I assume most people saw the California Supreme Court decision, “reasonable” isn’t good enough WE should take the “utmost” care. I have to agree, but this is nothing more than a gift to trial attorneys.
All of this is happening at the same time fuel and other costs are making it harder to do the right thing. Something has got to give; shows need to work together or the future is not bright. It’s a future WE share.