How many US scream machines, that invert, don't have over the top restraints?
@Coaster Lover Has a good list going a few posts ago. Riders and engineers will tell you not only are the restraints not needed, but they can actually hinder the experience by ruining comfort. It's the lawyers and regulations that make them still show up. A few specific thoughts:
- One of the most insane (and my current favorite) coasters is Steel Vengeance at Cedar Point. Not only does it go upside down but it actually takes a high speed right hand turn while banking left. All rules of physics are trying to physically launch you out of the train...lap bars only.
- Another Cedar Point example...Top Thrill Dragster. 120 MPH, over 420 feet tall, 270 degree twist facing straight down. Lap bars only.
- I often consider California Screamin' (Incredicoaster) one of the world's best family coasters. Launch, loop, drops, bunny hops, and a long ride time. It always killed me that the trains were coffins with OTSRs while a year later Intamin opens Xcelerator down the street going 82MPH and up 205ft in the air with only lap bars. It would be such a huge upgrade to replace the trains with a more modern design...you could actually enjoy the bunny hops with lap bars and people could actually see in the second rows due to the more open design!
- This is not a new development either. The Schwarzkopf loopers from the 70s were lap bar only. Magic Mountain retrofitted Revolution with OTSRs only to bring lap bars back with the New Revolution.