Study Contends Thrill Ride G Forces Are SafeA University of Pennsylvania study shows that G forces on thrill ride are *not* strong enough to cause injury.
From David Allen
A study by the University of Pennsylvania disputes the theory advanced by those who would regulate the g-forces on roller coasters.Posted October 17, 2002 at 9:22 AM Read it here: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/10/16/health/main525843.shtml
Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond. From Robert Niles
The study looked at just three coasters: Disney-MGM's Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Speed in Las Vegas and Face/Off at Kings Island.Posted October 17, 2002 at 9:42 AM Quote: "They found that the coasters produced accelerations to the head nine times less than what would be required to cause torn blood vessels in the brain and 18 times less than the force required to cause brain swelling." Granted, three rides is probably not a large enough sample to close this issue for good. But this study does confirm to me that I was right with what I said earlier this year: It's not the G forces, but the restraints that are contributing to most of the head and neck injuries that we're seeing on high-speed and turbulent thrill rides. Let's also remember that we are talking just about otherwise healthy people here. The aneurysm cases are another issue. But I contend that improper or ill-fitting restraints account for the vast majority of the head injuries, concussions or post-concussive symptoms that otherwise healthy people have incurred from riding these thrill rides. The vast majority of people who ride, and follow the safety instructions, never experience any injury. But some folks do get hurt. And I would love to see one-tenth the public attention that has been focused on G forces be put on the issue of developing better restraint systems on thrill rides.
From Russell Meyer
Injuries also occur because of rider ignorance. Some people ride coasters that they are not prepared for. You should always look at a coaster, and make sure you in the right frame of mind, and know what to expect prior to riding. There's nothing worse than someone riding a looping coaster with your eye's closed. Part of preventing injury is preparing yourself for upcomming twists and turns. Also, people can injure themselves by boarding coasters with prior conditions, or impared by alcohol. It's up to people to be smart, and know that if a certain type of coaster has hurt you in the past, that you should think twice before riding a similar one again. Posted October 17, 2002 at 10:33 AM
From Robert Niles
I mentioned "keep you eyes open" on my safety tips page, and I'm thankful when other people give that same advice.Posted October 17, 2002 at 11:34 AM Closing your eyes impairs your body's ability to "read and react" to what is coming on a roller coaster. Your body is constantly making adjustments that you don't consciously recognize. When you ride a thrill ride, you should be revelling in your senses, not shutting them off.
From Coaster Enthusiast
"...you should be revelling in your senses, not shutting them off."Posted October 17, 2002 at 1:01 PM Then along comes the 'totally-enclosed-in-the-dark-ride-coasters' While I certainly agree that riders should keep their eyes open, there are a couple exceptions: the above mentioned Rock-N-RollerCoaster [along with Flight of Fear and Space Mountain] which are totally enclosed in darkness, and many inverted coasters where a rider's view is obstructed (very much so) by the train in front of him/her. A close friend of mine claims Alpengeist is the absolute most frightening coaster because he could not see what was coming up next. And, Volcano: The BLAST Coaster's second "blast" isn't even visible until you are *on* the ride itself. Also, why did the article only rank piddly, little coasters and not the ones that pull 4 or more Gs? From what I hear, there are quite a LOT of folks complaining about Goliath's second helix which nears them to blacking out. Hypersonic-XLC is going through a major change due to the hard, upturn thrust into the 90º angle. And quite a bit more folks have been complaining about the whiplash effect caused by many rides' final breaking systems. For sure, a potential ride should be examined before entering the queue. However, there are other factors future victims ... er ... riders may need to know. ...
Six Flags is planning on eliminating its roller coasters: Friday, October 18, 2002 (Look for this date) -ras : )
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