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Safety Issues for Rollercoasters

An estimated 319 million people patronize U.S. amusement parks each year. Forty people were killed in roller coaster accidents from 1994 to 2004 because of falls and collisions, or cardiac or intracranial hemorrhages.

  1. Computer vs. Humans

    • Most roller coaster accidents occur because of computer malfunctions, or inappropriate or neglectful behavior of the riders and operators.

    Vigilance

    • The greatest roller coaster safety precaution is alert and vigilant patrons and operators who should report equipment malfunctions, tampering or suspicious behavior by individuals.

    Ride Operators

    • Distracted, bored, rude or misbehaving roller coaster operators are usually signs of lack of attention to safety issues and should be reported to amusement park management.

    Safety Inspections

    • A critical aspect in ensuring safety of a roller coaster is daily morning inspections of rides by park maintenance teams that lubricate, repair and maintain the equipment.

    Inconsistent Legislation

    • One critical safety issue is the lack of federal oversight of amusement park safety, with local oversight varying widely among states.

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