Roller Coaster Accidents
by Melissa
You arrive at the
Canyon Coaster Amusement Park. You take a look at all of the roller
coasters. Which one should you ride? You choose the "Black Diamond"
roller coaster. Why did you choose that one? Well, it is the fastest
roller coaster in the park - reaching speeds up to 70 MPH. It is made
of durable steel. It has all sorts of special effects and features.
But, most of all it is the safest.
This ride is inspected
five times daily and is sure to never break down. On every ride it
has ever gone on, nothing has happened. You always hear about roller
coaster accidents on the "safest" rides. You will never
hear about an accident on this ride.
Most accidents
that have occurred at amusement parks have happened because of total
carelessness. Four out of five ride-related injuries are caused by
visitors who stand up, swing their legs over the lap bar, or ignore
instructions. For example, on June 30, 1995, a fourteen-year-old girl
died after sustaining a massive head injury from a 25-foot fall from
the "Timberwolf" roller coaster. She was reported to have
been standing or kneeling at the time of the accident. On August 14,
1995, a 36-year-old maintenance worker was killed after he was struck
on the head by the foot of a passenger on a suspended roller coaster.
On April 30, 1989,
a 6-year-old boy died in a roller coaster accident. He attempted to
leave his compartment after the ride had come to a stop in the boarding
area. The operator decided to send the train around the track again,
and as it restarted, the boy fell to the ground. The ground was
less than four feet below the track. He climbed up through the track
and was struck by the car as it returned. The operator could not have
stopped the ride. Most of these deaths occurred because of the riders'
carelessness.
The 1999 death
toll for park riders is six deaths. The yearly average over the past
decade is 2.3 deaths. A lot of states have required safety rules.
Missouri requires the state to inspect any ride where an accident
occurred that led to medical treatment of a visitor. Some states
are making it illegal to disobey safety rules. Most parks inspect
rides at least daily.
Many states have
adopted a new law that gives you the responsibility for your safety.
If you do anything foolish or unsafe that would put you and/or the
other people around you in danger, you can be charged with a crime.
Most states require the posting of Ride Safety signs.
The "Black
Diamond" roller coaster is the safest because it has wheels that
are connected on both the top and the bottom. There are no unsafe
tricks that could cause the cars to stall or fly off the track. There
are Ride Safety signs posted everywhere on the ride. There is no chance
of this ride ever having an accident.
So, when you arrive
at the Canyon Coaster Amusement Park, choose the "Black Diamond"
roller coaster. This is the safest and the most fun roller coaster
of all!!!
Melissa
5-18-00
Bibliography
Web sites:
http://members.aol.com/ridesall/accidents.htm
www.rollercoaster.com
www.coasterquest.com/safety2.htm
Magazine Article:
U.S. News and World Report
May 10, 1999
"Accidents Can Happen and Do"
Page 72
By: Katherine T. Beddingfield