Just to help you out. I think some confusion on modern coaster comes from the fact that the “lap bar” actually goes over your shoulders from above. It’s like this on Mack and Intamin coasters but they don’t have vests. On Vekoma the restraint goes over your shoulder wings a vest. But the thing holding you in is the lap bar. Not the vest.
Over the shoulder restraints are often uncomfortable for riders and can be dangerous on their own for variety of reasons. As coasters got more intense, the preference was to move toward a restraint that holds you in at the waist rather than the shoulders. This not only confines riders at their center of gravity, it eliminates the issues that come with shoulder harnesses.
You can just look it up and find all sorts of sources that explain how waist restraints and over the shoulder restraints offer the same safety.
I agree with most of your views here, except this. Passing out (not graying out) is uncommon. But still happens. This is usually a loss of consciousness caused by g-force. Over all of its Florida rides, Disney sees around 20 riders who are reported unconscious (and usually sent to the hospital) per year. I don't know how many of these are coasters or thrill rides--heat also plays a factor. In terms of Universal, the restraint system is supposed to protect riders who have passed out in a way they are safe inside their seats as the coaster finishes its circuit. This should be true for ADA riders and riders who are amputees (within the defined specs for both categories). It looks like this didn't happen here. If there was some underlying health factor that contributed to his death, we would've heard about it with the initial medical report. And it wasn't in there.
that is not a lap bar - it’s a shoulder harness correct?
It's not. If you look at Velocicoaster, while the restraint comes down over your shoulder, there is no upper body restraint. It rests on your lap only.
I’m not talking about velocicoaster…. How many times do I have to mention “the restrains on space mountain in Paris”
It might be better to describe these as "to the side" of the shoulder systems that then focus the restraint element on the lap, stomach, and thighs. The bars don't protect the shoulder areas. But the seating area also has curved areas around the shoulders, which should pin in your shoulders some. The padded area is fairly high, so it "should" help pin in your torso. It is a very tight system compared to other coasters. If there is forward momentum, the upper body should remain in the seat, especially with the side shoulder elements and the high restraint. If you pass out, your head maybe can flop forward; your arms might move freely. But something clearly did not work here. For comparison, the Volocicoaster has a similar system, but it's looser and the seat curves are around the hips, not the shoulders.
Those aren't much better. While the keep you from moving around, it also no better than the lap bar/shin guard restraints.
To be fair - I haven’t ridden velocicoaster so I don’t know how similar or different they are.
That is understood. The vest part that touches your upper body is a cosmetic option offered by the manufacturer. It is not the restraint.
THats the point with most of these new systems, is that they keep you secure but your body can also feel the G forces. It's why most new coasters have gone to the lap bar and shin guards. They keep you in the train but you can lift off your seat
It's almost like saying "Well we're all going to die at some point aren't we, may as well go on a roller coaster"
Pardon? Am I hearing you right?
What kind of defense is that???
Coasters are a controlled environment that is supposed to be under control of engineering EXPERTS?
This is a death within less than 1/2 a year and even if the problem is the coasters fault, your solution is????
Oh well???
I mean how heartless and just horrible does that sound.
Exactly. Coasters are optional amusements that are highly regulated. Car transportation--though potentially dangerous--is typically viewed as an essential activity. For the most part, auto transportation is to take people to work, the store, get food, go to appointments, etc. These are not the same thing at all and shouldn't be compared.
Pardon? Am I hearing you right?
What kind of defense is that???
Coasters are a controlled environment that is supposed to be under control of engineering EXPERTS?
This is a death within less than 1/2 a year and even if the problem is the coasters fault, your solution is????
Oh well???
I mean how heartless and just horrible does that sound.
This isn't the first time a death has happened on a coaster. A year after Superman opened at Darien Lake a man fell out of his seat and died.
Pardon? Am I hearing you right?
What kind of defense is that???
Coasters are a controlled environment that is supposed to be under control of engineering EXPERTS?
This is a death within less than 1/2 a year and even if the problem is the coasters fault, your solution is????
Oh well???
I mean how heartless and just horrible does that sound.
It’s not a defense because we don’t know what happened. Therefore it is premature to be demanding changes and placing blame (which you seem so eager to do).
Pardon? Am I hearing you right?
What kind of defense is that???
Coasters are a controlled environment that is supposed to be under control of engineering EXPERTS?
This is a death within less than 1/2 a year and even if the problem is the coasters fault, your solution is????
Oh well???
I mean how heartless and just horrible does that sound.
And so in this, I'm so confused as to what hit him multiple times to cause repeated blunt force trauma. The body shouldn't bend like that in these restraint systems, unless something else went very wrong.