Overkill = More Safe

Jeff made a good point on the lastest Coasterbuzz Podcast saying CF has been known for overkill safety procedures, but their record shows they're doing something right. Do you guys agree with this?

I do, but I haven't noticed the changes hurting anything.

Yes I do agree that the overkill is a good thing and I like how all the rides have seatbelts.

After riding Catapult (SWAT) at SFNE and having my restraints pop open a few clicks, the I'm happy to see the simple seatbelt on Skyhawk. Sure there are probably 50 clicks or so to get the restraint down, but it was scary.

And besides, Millennium Forces trains haven't been butchered with scrap metal and shin guards so what's there to complain about?

What was their safety record before the overkill? Pretty darn good from what I understand...

The overkill in my book is obvious in the Magnum station and the belts on Corkscrew. I think Jeff might be refering to these types of instances maybe more.

The belts on Skyhawk do not bother me so much. A secondary restraint on such a ride is actually comforting. However it's location and the type of restraint is downright stupid and time consuming. I would think a safety belt in typical form could be retro fitted on the ride.

I haven't noticed the changes hurting anything.

Did you see the ridership numbers? Many of those decreases (totalling hundreds of thousands, or maybe millions, of rides per season) are the result of safety-driven changes (which affect cycle time.)

Have you seen the attendance numbers? Having to wait longer in every coaster line isn't going to encourage people to come out for additional visits. That's certainly not the only reason attendance is down, but it doesn't help matters.

I'm not saying "don't be safe," but to be honest, many of the "safety changes" have not improved safety (and in some cases have made it worse.) Some of these are probably out of Cedar Point's hands (Millennium Force belt length, for instance,) but many are not.

I disagree that these changes haven't hurt anything.

I posted this because I know others have seen the problems, but none of them have affected me or anyone else I know.

I don't know a single person going to CP that doesn't expect a hour+ line in the summer. I really can't see these extra measures have taken away "millions of riders" and the few people who say, "I'm never coming back," make up a very small percentage of people and most them probably come back anyway. I highly doubt the attendance drops were due to this.

When you have a very good safety record you're always looking for ways to ensure that never goes away. At least I would think that.

*** Edited 5/31/2006 8:08:21 PM UTC by Gomez***

On the flip-side is the addition of a seatbelt to corkscrew. (wow, I took a long time getting that in)

The attendance isn't a result of "safety" changes. In fact, if many people remember, wetter than usual weather last year is probably the main cause of the drop.

The decreased ridership in many cases can be attributed to there just being not that many people through the gate. If your overall attendance drops 3%, is it out of line to think that the number of Magnum rides would drop 3% as well?

The "safety" changes on Magnum are also a joke. I understand the reasoning for moving people around (get them out of reach of riders) however these things need to be implemented by someone without a law degree.

*** Edited 5/31/2006 8:10:22 PM UTC by JuggaLotus***

Attendence is affected by much more then just bad weather. Cedar Fair is headed down the Six Flags path right now, I hope they snap out of it. Bad customer service keeps me away. A little town in Indiana three hours further away keeps their attendance going up and keeps me coming back. High gas prices don't matter either, the park does.

What park are you guys going to?

I would assume Holiday world is what they are referring to.

I don't particularly agree with blaming 'bad weather' everytime attendance numbers don't hit the expected numbers.

I do agree, however, that people do expect to wait in line an hour+ during the summer. It's just the way it is. I doubt most people notice that the lines are taking much longer anyway.

I'm actually wondering if we're all talking about the same park at times.

My CP seems a lot better than others explain it. *** Edited 5/31/2006 8:44:15 PM UTC by Gomez***

Let's not take my quote out of context. I didn't say the overkill made things more safe. Posting ride operators behind columns on the Magnum platform isn't safer for anyone except perhaps the ride operators, but at the expense of rider safety. Not saying that the eyes on the other side of the platform or at controls aren't adequate, but it's still a bad idea.

Seat belts on Corkscrew don't make it safer after almost 30 years, unless the thing were to get stuck in an inversion and then the restraint fails. I admit I haven't seen them up close, or been on the ride, but I hear it makes running three trains entirely pointless.

The truth is, they had an amazing safety record well before they started making these really bizarro world changes.

I haven't seen too many bad things that affect my day at CP very much, other than the seatbelts on Corkscrew. I'm just waiting for them to put them on ID. CS is horrible with stacking now. Last season I constantly saw two trains on the two blocks outside the station. In fact, I rarely saw anything but that. Magnum is another good example of seemingly silly safety changes. You don't have to have a degree in safety science to know how to be safe. In fact, I would say that the person with the safety science degree could create more problems than he/she tries to fix if they go overboard.

I'm with Jeff on this one - especially with the Magnum situation. The argument that you're making the hosts safer at the expense of the riders seems enough to me to say, "it's not worth doing." A few years back, you'd see every crewmember's eyes looking down into the train as you left the station. Now you're lucky to catch one doing that. And in fairness, they're too far away to see anything anyway.

Also, on Corkscrew, if something did indeed go wrong there, it was not because of a design flaw or anything of that nature. The ride has operated without incident for 30 years and given probably 50-60 million rides. If something went wrong, it's because someone screwed up - my money is on maintenence.

I'm happy to see the mood of the employees seems to be improved this year, but there are some questionable operating procedures these days (most of them started last year). Mechanical issues aside, I think the park is in better shape this year than last from what I've seen.

I'm just waiting for the first lawsuit stemming from someone getting hit in the face by those stupid belts on Corkscrew. I've seen some people take some pretty good hits to the face when the restraints pop up and the buckle swings into them. What if that were to hit you in the eye or chip/knock out a tooth?

OK first off let me say that I have NEVER felt anything but safe on rides at ANY perminenet amusement park that I have been too. But I do have a question, the seatbelt on Corkscrew, is there a reason that they were placed in the middle of the restraint instead of off to the side. I have not been this year so I am trying to remember how they look from last years memories (not a good idea:) ) But could they not have the belt positioned on the side and just connect it directly to the chassis of the train, similar to how they are on Wicked Twister. Now the quest may not be able to buckle it, but it would go faster just to have the ride host buckle it as they check the restraints. And this way they are not in the way, they are easy to get to and will not smack anyone in the face as they are getting in or out.

Just an idea.

I appreciate Cedar Point being the safest park.

=)

And then on Cork they tell you to check your own belt by pulling it to prove to the ride op. it's on right. Kind of seem like it defeats the purpose, doesn't it?

That is after the belt nails you in the face.

All I know is that if CP should have an accident now because of a seatbelt or because of a poor performing ride op it would be really bad for the amusement industry.

It would be bad, but how would it affect the entire industry?