Ultimate Rollercoaster > Discussion Forums > Roller Coasters, Parks & Attractions > Any resources to help w/ my restraint failure anxiety?

Any resources to help w/ my restraint failure anxiety?

goingtouniversal

Posted: 7/21/17 at 3:49:26 AM

I used to ride roller coasters all of the time as a teenager, often getting back in line for the same coaster 3 and 4 times in a row. Then I developed an anxiety disorder and haven't ridden one in at least 10 years because I've developed quite the intense fear that the restraint on a coaster is going to pop open (or a train will fall off a track, etc), catapulting me to my death.

Every time I'm planning a trip to an amusement park, I find myself frantically searching the internet for information on the physics behind how different types of rides work, statistics on roller coaster deaths of different types, etc. hoping to find something that will reassure me that I'm not putting myself in grave danger by hopping on a roller coaster. Then when I get to the park, I chicken out and kick myself for it later.

I'm currently planning a trip to Universal Orlando and therefore doing the same thing, especially with regard to the Hulk coaster since that used to be my favorite ride in the world. I'd really like to ride that one at a minimum this trip. Is there anything anyone can explain to me about the design of the ride or any resources someone can point me to to help me feel reassured that the engineers and builders really knew what they were doing when they designed the ride?

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Re: Any resources to help w/ my restraint failure anxiety? by frontrow

at 7/21/17 2:38:38 PM

I can't explain the physics, but I can reinsurer you that with today's technology, the rides and coasters are safe, as long as you obey the safety rules. Most accidents occur at amusement parks because someone didn't follow the safety rules. I personally feel perfectly safe while at an amusement park. It's driving to the parks that scares the crap out of me. Statistics show that you are more likely to be injured or killed while driving to an amusement park, then while you are there. I've been traveling North America now for 17 years to different parks, and take hundreds of coaster rides every year. I have only seen a restraint failure once during my travels. The incident occurred on The Racer at Kings Island. I kid returned to the station holding the broken restraint, but he had his seat belt buckled, which kept in the train and returned to the station safely.

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Re: Any resources to help w/ my restraint failure anxiety? by John_Knotts

at 7/21/17 2:39:51 PM

It's so funny you posted this because I've slowly over the years developed the opposite anxiety problem. I have a fear of a coaster stopping on the lift hill or valleying on the course and being trapped in the restraint. It's an irrational fear for sure, and yet it's always there just under the surface. It started a few years ago after being stuck on The Voyage at the top of the lift for close to an hour during a thunder storm.

What I do to beat that fear is to do the opposite of what the fear is telling me and just keep riding as many coasters as possible. I do not let it win.

* This post was modified at 7/21/17 2:41:23 PM *

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Re: Any resources to help w/ my restraint failure anxiety? by goingtouniversal at 7/21/17 2:50:56 PM

frontrow said:

I can't explain the physics, but I can reinsurer you that with today's technology, the rides and coasters are safe, as long as you obey the safety rules. Most accidents occur at amusement parks because someone didn't follow the safety rules. I personally feel perfectly safe while at an amusement park. It's driving to the parks that scares the crap out of me. Statistics show that you are more likely to be injured or killed while driving to an amusement park, then while you are there. I've been traveling North America now for 17 years to different parks, and take hundreds of coaster rides every year. I have only seen a restraint failure once during my travels. The incident occurred on The Racer at Kings Island. I kid returned to the station holding the broken restraint, but he had his seat belt buckled, which kept in the train and returned to the station safely.

Lol, the image of a restraint popping off in the rider's hand is not helping!! There are many rides where there is not a backup seatbelt for an occurrence like that.

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Re: Any resources to help w/ my restraint failure anxiety? by frontrow

at 7/22/17 1:22:14 AM

Well I usually spend 30-50 days a year at an amusement park, so a restraint failure is extremely rare. I've only been evacuated from a coaster once. That was in 1999 on Flight of Fear at Kings Island. I think I read that US permanent parks average 3 deaths per year, out of 9 billion visitors. So that means you have a 1 out of 3 billion chance of becoming fatally injured at an amusement park in the US. I'll take those odds any day. I'm sure there are other things most likely to cause a fatality than riding coasters. I travel with my kids to different parks. If I thought there was any chance that they would be injured at an amusement park, I wouldn't take them. I look at the odds, and feel completely safe, and I feel my kids are completely safe as well.

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