Amusement Ride Safety: Ride Restraints

MYTH:  Current ride restraints are inadequate and dangerous.

REALITY:

• Restraints vary according to both their design and ride type, thus allowing a significant level of specialization, including the widespread use of individually-adjustable restraints.
• Restraint design is typically based upon a 95 percentile physical profile that comfortably accommodates the vast majority of a ride’s population segment.  Manufacturer guidelines help parks address the remaining guests whose physical attributes are outside this parameter due to size, disability, or other factors.  Such actions can include adjusting the seating location of certain patrons.
• Many parks offer riders information regarding the issues of size and disability in the form of facility signage, printed or web materials, and model “test yourself” seats at the start of queue lines.
• Restraints undergo rigorous testing in their design phase, and industry guidelines in this area have been continuously augmented through the ASTM process.  Restraints are tailored to handle the intended forces of a ride and the reasonably foreseeable actions of its riders.
• Restraints are designed redundantly, in that (1) there are often at least two restraint devices on a ride, and (2) any restraint is just one part of a ride’s overall safety package.
• Information on restraint changes or updates is shared via the normal ASTM International standards development process and other industry forums (seminars, etc.), as well as via ASTM protocols for manufacturers to inform parks of ride-related safety changes and via state/local agencies exchanging data with each other.

MYTH:  Ride restraints are especially dangerous for children because they were not designed with children in mind.

REALITY:

• The rate of incidents on children’s rides, or “kiddie” rides, those being rides expressly designed for younger children, is quite low.  According to data reported by the National Safety Council, only 11 percent (192 injuries) of all injuries (1,713 total) occurred on children’s rides in 2005.
• Furthermore, the NSC reports that only 7.7 percent of all ride related injuries were serious enough to necessitate immediate hospitalization.  This means that only 14 of these incidents occurring on children’s rides fell under the category of “serious injury”.
• Theme parks take the issue of safety just as seriously with “kiddie” rides as they do with their larger counterparts.  Parks are partners in safety along with their guests in all things, including concerns parents may have regarding younger riders.  “Guest Relations” offices will be more than happy to help any parent with questions regarding what rides might, or might not, be appropriate for their children as well as help parents tailor their day to their family’s specific needs so they may enjoy their experience safely.