Just remember:
You have a 1 in 1.5 BILLION chance of dying on a roller coaster
(Source). For those of you who prefer a percent chance, that’s a 0.00000007% chance. Read that again.
Compare that to these other common death statistics:
Chance of dying in a car: 1 in 103
Chance of dying in a plane: 1 in 5.4 million
Chance of getting eaten by a shark: 1 in 11.5 million
Chance of winning the lottery: 1 in 292.2 million
Roller coasters are over-engineered with safety systems and failsafes to prevent any sort of accident from occurring. Obviously things do happen, but think of this: Even in this video, a failsafe is being displayed. As a result of the cable snapping, the roller coaster train did not make it to the top of its signature top hat element. It rolled back down the launch track, into a set of brake fins that deploy BEHIND the train as it launches past. This braking system was engineered for the sole purpose of stopping a train if it were to roll back, so that the train doesn’t roll back down the launch track at 80 mph, colliding with any trains behind it. Considering this is a prototype coaster, the park obviously did not know the extent of any damage a snapped cable would cause. As a result of this, extensive precautions have since been taken at Knott’s Berry Farm and any other park with an Intamin Accelerator coaster so that something like this will never happen again. Obviously accidents CAN a happen, but the chances? EXTREMELY slim.
In conclusion, there is absolutely no reason to be scared that a theme park ride is dangerous. And some also may be happy to hear that a vast majority of the ride control falls into the over-engineered ride computer system. This means that the “teenage ride operator” can’t just drop his phone on the control panel and kill everyone. On the vast majority of roller coasters, and certainly all NEW coasters, the train will not even dispatch from the station if not every restraint is locked. This is especially directed at any of you who think that your restraint will just pop open if the ride operator doesn’t tug on it. If it’s locked, you’ll be able to ride. If it isn’t, the ride computer will not allow you to.
If you ever read that “amusement parks aren’t federally mandated by the government,” remember this: Do you really think a park will put less effort in maintaining its rides because it isn’t federally mandated to do so? Accidents mean bad publicity and fewer guests, meaning less money. Parks don’t want that.
All roller coasters are inspected extremely often to ensure that they are safe to operate.
Disclaimer: I am referring solely to permanent roller coasters at amusement parks. Although carnival rides are also very safe in the grand scheme of things, I cannot comment on their safety.
Feel free to respond if you have any questions!!
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