by Michael Hunter

Created on: June 05, 2009   Last Updated: June 06, 2009

My answer to this question always has been and will continue to be a resounding, Yes, until I am given good reason and evidence to say otherwise. Of course my answer should also be taken with the understanding that I operated complex roller coasters, fairly simple kids rides and everything in between for two summers at Cedar Point. My knowledge of the safety of the rides that millions trust their lives on every year, is based not only on statistics (which can be manipulated), but also on first hand experience and a decent mechanical knowledge of the rides.

I suppose that a few simple statistics would give some good starting ground for facts and illustrations, so that is where I will start. According to Consumer Products Safety Commission, between 1987-2004, they reported 46 fixed-site ride related non-occupational deaths. For comparison, a rough average attendance figure for Cedar Point alone is around 3 million. Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom has been drawing more than 10 million visitors annually for several years now. It is much more likely for you to die in a car crash on your way to the park to enjoy your day at a park, than you are to die while enjoying a ride on a roller coaster or other ride at the park. But the issue is more than just statistics; it is also about the safety systems in place and even the design of the rides themselves, that make them some of the safest machines in the world.

The almost universal restraint system in place on most amusement rides is a combination of a lap bar (either a lap bar or over-the-shoulder restraint) and a seat belt. The lap bar is the primary safety measure, the seat belt is secondary, a fail-safe if you will. In many instances the seat belt will actually buckle to the lap bar or over-the-shoulder restraint (OSTR from now on). Even though seat belts are usually a secondary restraint, you must use both when both are provided! Lap bars are primarily used on roller coasters that do not go upside down, while OTSR are used on rides that to go upside down. However, if you go back to the days of the first modern roller coaster to feature a vertical loop, it had a lap bar and was perfectly safe.

There are two basic kinds of lap bars. The traditional ratcheting restraint that makes audible clicks as you lower it and a hydraulic restraint system that operates silently, can fit a wider range of bodies and is also technically safer than the traditional ratcheting lap bar. The ratcheting lap bar is a simple mechanism,

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