Who has ridden Diamondback?
Kings Island: Questions about restraint system...
I just returned from Kings Island and rode Diamondback, which is just a great ride, but it only has the main restraint and no backup, such as a lap seatbelt or a belt that connects to the restraint so that if it should fail, it can't open all the way. I was surprised that a park owned by Cedar Fair would install a big coaster such as this without a double restraint system. All the big coasters I can think of at Cedar Point have double restraints, and I believe that is probably one of the reasons their safety record is outstanding. I really enjoyed Diamondback but I have to say I was nervous about it the whole time I was riding. Three other people in our group said the same thing. And when I rode as a single rider, the man next to me was gripping a metal post that was between our seats, so he must have felt the same way. This ride is all about air time and you are pushed against the restraint and are right out of your seat on every hill. If that restraint ever failed, you'd definitely be killed. There would be no way you could stay in the seat. I'd love to know why they built it this way and if there's any fail proof device they have to ensure the safety of the riders. One of my sons wouldn't even ride it again because of it. I rode it several times but I really couldn't enjoy it as much as I would have liked. I was trying to hold on to the sides of the seat or something next to me every time.
I don't like to think negatively about a ride, how it could possibly kill me and all, certainly with every theme park ride we could come up with some way for it to kill us? I never thought about it when riding Diamondback, the restraint felt very secure and snug, it didn't come across my mind that it would fail.
It is odd for Cedar Fair to allow this, as they normally are very safe, but I doubt we'll be seeing a fatality on Diamondback for years to come.
Your apprehension about the train isn't uncommon. The train is designed for as much open air and freedom as possible. I think that the style of the train and the seats brings more attention to the restraint, which has been used in other B&M's for a while. Most trains have sides...this one has none whatsoever, which adds to the illusion that you may fall out.
The lap bar restraint in question has more than one mechanism that locks it in place underneath the train. If one mechanical part would happen to fail, there is another (and maybe even another) safety mechanism in place.
I don't think that B&M, one of the premiere coaster makers in the world, would skimp at all on safety features, least of all to Cedar Fair, who are pretty stringent on rider safety these days. I have ridden and still am with complete confidence.
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