re: Endymion says it cannot reschedule due to tractor shortage, new policy

Mardi Gras is very safe. Some accidents will happen whenever you have this volume of people assembled for any activity.

The safety of Mardi Gras is not an opinion it is a fact. This was a tragic week but over the last 60 years you can count them on one hand.

All that being said there are certainly some improvements to be made albeit minor.

The gaps in the tandems should be covered by an accordian type of material. Hell, the netting that surrounds trampolines would have been enough to save the woman from her own foolishness.

There may be some more sophisticated technology to be explored as others have mentioned...kill switches or some way to communicate with the driver.

Also some kind of wheel guard that could prevent a roll over of a person even if it didn't completely prevent injury.

The city forbids tossing of certain throws like coconuts but the policy of handing them off the float creates dangerous situations. This needs to be reexamined. I believe handing coconuts and Muses shoes is more dangerous than tossing.

Lastly, riders need to be encouraged to not throw ahead of the float, or back behind an area they have already passed. Many of these throws end up in front of their float or in front of the one behind them.

Also, enforce the no throw rule while stopped. This was a good idea now ignored.

The largest floats should have walking chaperones. This used to be common. One per axel maybe.

Again. Mardi Gras is safe as is but a few relatively minor changes might have prevented one if not both of the tradgedies this week.

Have a safe Mardi Gras!