How Safe is Safe

Roller Coaster Safety

Rip, Ride, Rockit- Orlando Sentinel

Standing at a massive 17 stories and reaching speeds of up to 65 mph, Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit  can be an intimidating site for even the veteran roller coaster enthusiasts. I recall one afternoon while waiting in line, a patron was trying to convince his wife to take that leap of faith and go on Rip, Ride, Rockit. I never forget his wife's response, "Are you crazy? Do you want me to die?". Naturally, as any smart man would do, they left the ride never to be seen or heard from again. Ok, maybe that is a little dramatic but her response was one I have heard one too many times, and actually have shared the same sentiment at one point in my life. How safe are roller coasters?

The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, as reported on the  Popular Mechanics article "Just How Dangerous Are Roller Coasters",  estimates the chances of sustaining a deadly injury on a ride at a stand-alone amusement park such as Universal Studio, Disney, Six Flags, etc. are one in 750 million. Those odds definitely favor the house or better yet, the rider. According to the Amusement Safety Organization, reported injuries have been increasing from 2014 to 2015. Universal Studios Islands of Adventure reported 76 significant injuries alone in 2015; an increase of 8 injures from 2014. In order to have a better understanding of these numbers, let's take a look at the type of injuries reported. Out of the 76 injuries reported at Islands of Adventure, 18 were leg related in which the rider lost feeling in their legs or had problems walking after the ride, 35 were neck related injuries, 17 shoulder related, 2 back, and 4 were trip and fall injuries. A similar path of injuries were also reported at Disney World's Magic Kingdom with the exception of black-outs added to the list of injuries. The chart below shows the annual attendance for Disney's Magic Kingdom, in millions. According to Statista, a credible statistics and studies portal with over 18,000 data sources, Disney, in 2015, had over 20 million guests attend their park with only 27 injuries reported; less than a quarter of a percent (Statista).

These injuries, although relatively small in volume, seemed to be either preexisting conditions or a negative reaction to the ride's movements. This would not classify a roller coaster dangerous to the average healthy person. Another great article from Popular Mechanics, "Building America's Most Extreme New Roller Coasters", reported on several studies and models created in order to test how dangerous a roller coaster can truly be. University of Pennsylvania neurologist Dr. Douglas Smith created a system that evaluates how humans react to sudden increases and decreases in speed and g-forces associated with roller coasters. Through his research, Dr. Douglas Smith concluded that “The head rotational accelerations were nowhere near the threshold we know to cause injuries". Neurologist Dr. Gary O' Shanick, chair of a committee of doctors and researchers whose sole purpose is to identify any risk to the brain brought on by riding roller coasters, concluded "The risk lies in the rider, not in the ride, so only people with pre-existing conditions may be prone to injury". Dr. O' Shanic's research validates my original suspicion- only you can prevent roller coaster injuries.

Remember, you know your body the best. The temptation of riding a roller coaster is exciting to say the least, but not at the risk of severe injury or even death. Most injuries occur because a rider was not following the rules and warning signs. With the advancement in technology, roller coaster safety is at its best, but there is no technology that can replace common sense. Please use it, even when you are just having some fun. Follow the rules and be honest with your body's limitations in order to ensure a high probability of safety on any roller coaster. Enjoy this funny, over-the-top roller coaster safety video from Funny or Die featuring the very talented Patrick Warburton.