How Are Dodgems Safe?

how are dodgems safe

Part of what has made the dodgems and bumper cars so enduringly popular with thrill seekers is how rough and tumble they are. It's just great fun to drive your own vehicle and, unlike when on the roads, be able to bump into others as you drive round the circuit. You may think the contact element of this amusement means that the dodgems are unsafe and to be avoided, but that just isn't true. There are numerous safety features which make the dodgems a fun activity where you don't need to worry about anything bad happening.

First of all, modern dodgems now feature seatbelts. These work just like they do in cars and prevent sudden jolts which could cause back and neck injuries during collisions. Other developments in bumper cars, such as phasing out the metal rods which connect to an electricity supply in the ceiling, also reduce unneeded obstacles that have the potential to get in the way or malfunction. To facilitate this, contemporary bumper cars now source their electricity from the floor of the circuit rather than the ceiling.

Another way that dodgems have massively increased safety is by dramatically improving the overall robustness of the bumper cars. This means that they provide a far safer, smooth and protected ride than they once did. You may not be aware, but when the dodgems first appeared they were so flimsy that they were not supposed to be driven into each other! However, through design improvements, the dodgems of today are able to withstand multiple blows from other bumper cars over and over again without any damage to them whatsoever.

We even have children's inflatable bumper cars, which feature a bouncy surround to reduce the forces endured in collisions, and you can expect our traditional dodgems to offer great safety standards, too!

The best safety standards with We Are Tricycle funfair hire

traditional dodgems

At We Are Tricycle we take the safety of our fairground amusements and funfair attractions and the people who ride in them extremely seriously, and the dodgems are no different. Just like everything we stock, we regularly check our dodgems cars and the circuit itself for any faults, and any necessary maintenance is carried out accordingly. Further, we always ensure that our dodgems contain PAT certified electronics, and all of our rides are fully ADIPS tested.

You will have nothing whatsoever to worry about when you hire from us, because our amusements all have £5-10million public liability insurance. This will give you complete peace of mind that nothing unexpected will come up, no matter what. Furthermore, as we have extensive experience of working with the largest event organisers in the UK, we know exactly what is required when delivering to functions featuring thousands of attendees. Our professionalism and service ensures that, even with an amusement as exciting as the dodgems, there will be nothing to worry about. We approach every job, regardless of size, with the same second-to-none attitude to safety.

If you have anything you'd like to discuss about the safety features of our dodgems and bumper cars, our expert team will be very happy to answer questions. Simply contact us directly and we will get back to you right away.

modern dodgems

Why Dodgems Can Be Safe Despite the Bumps

Dodgems are designed around controlled contact. The whole point is that the cars can bump into one another, but that does not mean the attraction is uncontrolled. The speed, arena, vehicle design, operating rules and supervision all work together to create a ride where contact is expected and managed.

If you are interested in the wider engineering and safety of dodgems, our guides to How Do the Dodgems Work? and What's the Difference Between Dodgems and Bumper Cars? provide useful background before looking at the safety considerations in more detail.

Low Speeds Are Part of the Design

Dodgem cars are not road vehicles. Their operating environment is a purpose-built arena where speeds are comparatively low and the cars are designed specifically for repeated contact. This makes the forces involved very different from a collision on a road.

The Modern Dodgems and Traditional Dodgems may look different, but both are intended to operate within a controlled fairground setting rather than on an open traffic route.

The Arena Keeps the Cars in a Defined Space

A dodgem ride operates inside a bounded track or arena. Cars remain within that defined area and the perimeter provides separation between riders and spectators.

This controlled environment is one of the features that distinguishes dodgem hire from other types of mobile attraction. Organisers thinking about site layout can also read How Much Space Is Needed for Dodgems Hire? and How to Place Funfair Rides Around the Site.

Bumper Design Helps Manage Contact Between Cars

Dodgem cars are constructed with surrounding bumpers intended to absorb and spread some of the energy involved when vehicles make contact. This is why the characteristic bumping action feels very different from two ordinary vehicles colliding.

The cars are also designed so that riders remain seated within the vehicle rather than being exposed directly to contact between the cars themselves.

Safe Dodgem Operation Depends on Rider Behaviour Too

Even on an attraction built around bumping, riders still need to follow the instructions given by the operator. Deliberately ignoring rules, standing up while the ride is operating or behaving in a way that creates unnecessary risk can result in the ride being stopped or the rider being asked to leave.

Our Refusing Access to Funfair Rides guide explains why operators sometimes have to make decisions about who can participate, while Funfair Ride Health Restrictions and the Equality Act looks at passenger suitability and access in more detail.

Operators Control the Ride, Not the Riders

Riders control the steering and movement of their individual cars, but the attraction itself remains under the control of the ride operator. The operator controls when the session starts and finishes and can intervene if something is not operating as expected.

This distinction is important. The attraction may feel spontaneous to the rider, but the wider system is still being managed by trained personnel.

Dodgems Are Checked Like Other Fairground Rides

Dodgems are still amusement equipment and form part of the same broader safety culture as other fairground rides. Inspection, maintenance and pre-use checks are all relevant to the safe operation of the attraction.

For more information about this side of fairground safety, see How Funfair Rides Are Tested for Safety, Daily Safety Checks for Funfair Rides and Funfair Ride Periodic Maintenance.

Electrical Safety Is Particularly Relevant to Dodgems

Many dodgem systems rely on electrical power distributed through the ride infrastructure. That makes electrical safety an important part of their operation alongside the mechanical condition of the cars and arena.

Our Fairground Electrical Safety Regulations guide provides broader information about electrical considerations associated with amusement equipment, while How Are Funfair Rides Powered? explains some of the ways different attractions receive the power they need to operate.

Loading and Unloading Need to Be Managed Carefully

The ride does not become safe simply because the cars themselves are designed for contact. Boarding and leaving the attraction also need to be controlled so that riders enter and exit at the correct time and do not walk into the operating area while cars are moving.

Our How to Safely Load Funfair Rides guide looks more closely at passenger loading, while How to Manage Queues at Funfairs covers the movement of guests before they reach the ride itself.

Children's Dodgems Need Age-Appropriate Planning

Some dodgem attractions are designed specifically for younger users. Our children's inflatable bumpercars provide a different style of experience from full-sized traditional or modern dodgems and can be better suited to some younger audiences.

For family events, it is useful to think about the complete range of children's fairground rides and attractions rather than assuming every child will be suitable for every ride. How to Keep Children Safe at Fairgrounds provides further guidance for organisers and parents.

Dodgems Still Need a Suitable Event Site

Safe ride design is only one part of the overall event. The attraction also needs sufficient space, suitable access and sensible positioning in relation to other rides, stalls, queues and pedestrian routes.

This can be particularly important at council and local authority events, company fun days and corporate events, school events and festival hire, where a dodgem arena may sit alongside many other activities.

Our How to Perform a Funfair Ride Risk Assessment guide provides a useful overview of wider event risk management, while How to Use Crowd Barrier Fencing at Events looks at one practical aspect of managing movement around attractions.