Are roller coasters getting more dangerous?

[POP]

It seems the more the companies try to one up each other on 'thrill factor', the more accidents are occurring. 

Alton Towers 'The Smiler' is just the latest. What about 'The Green Lantern' earlier this year? 

[Reanimated35]

Both seem like a cock up from an operator/maintenance person. (From the very limited info on each of them til the reports come out). 

So I wouldn't say the coaster's are more dangerous, but there's always risks associated with everything, even more so things involving human interaction.

[mba2012]

I wouldn't think that they're getting more dangerous. Both of these accidents were pretty major but they're also very rare and they just happened to occur to two fairly high profile coasters.

It's probably sort of like how flying isn't any more dangerous, there's just been two very high profile incidents in the past 18 months. 

Edited June 3, 2015 by mba2012

[pushbutton]

Two Malaysia Airlines jets crashed in the last couple of years. 

Is flying getting more dangerous?

Of course not! It's just two unfortunate incidents. 

[iwerks]

I think these coasters really push the limits of design. However, no one has died in theses incidents and it's still safer than crossing the road.

[POP]

I'm inclined to agree with you all, its just all so unsettling though. 

If the safety mechanism had failed on the Green Lantern, i can't even begin to imagine ...

[pushbutton]

I'm inclined to agree with you all, its just all so unsettling though. 

If the safety mechanism had failed on the Green Lantern, i can't even begin to imagine ...

That's the exact reason they have such safety mechanisms.  I never allow thoughts about bad things that could happen, or could have happened to upset me. Life's too short. Just enjoy it!

[Brad2912]

I'm inclined to agree with you all, its just all so unsettling though. 

If the safety mechanism had failed on the Green Lantern, i can't even begin to imagine ...

The safety mechanisms? All good having great harnesses but if the wheels come off it just means you won't fall out on the way down...

[iwerks]

I thought the safety mechanism on GL did fail. At least The Smiler was still on the tracks.

[Reanimated35]

^ Exactly. It DID fail. The wheels aren't designed to fall off for "safety"

[themagician]

Yeah, but one man is thought to have lost his leg 

[Gazza]

It seems the more the companies try to one up each other on 'thrill factor', the more accidents are occurring. 

Alton Towers 'The Smiler' is just the latest. What about 'The Green Lantern' earlier this year? 

​Not sure I really follow the logic.

The smiler is a looping coaster with two lift hills.

Looping coasters with two lift hills have existed for nearly 4 decades http://parkz.com.au//parks/US/Williamsburg/Busch_Gardens_Williamsburg/ride/2004-Loch_Ness_Monster

Wether or not it does two loops or 14 is irrelevant, because that's not the critical part of the ride system. The thing that makes a coaster dangerous/safe is things like harnesses, trains, brakes, lift hills etc. Ride accidents can happen on any sized attraction.

The Smiler incident seems like a clear case of human error to me. If it had just broken down chances are it was in maintenance mode, which lets you move/reverse trains at will, run the ride with harnesses up, override anything....And unfortunately someone has advanced the train when the track wasn't clear. 

[Tim Dasco]

Also the reason why it seems like there are more cases of this incidents is because the media takes on the stories and you hear about everyone. As in the past the media did not really care.

[rappa]

Yeah Disney has had more complicated coasters than anyone else for decades. From a kiddy coaster to a record breaker pretty much all the systems and safety concepts on coasters are the same. 

They are kept very simple for a reason. Simple = safe. 

[Bussy]

Go and do some research into coaster accidents from the past, particularly from the mid 20th century back. If you think modern coasters are getting more dangerous after doing that there is something wrong with you.

[razza1987]

I also think too that the reason it appears to be more dangerous now is because everyone is online now so everyone is talking about incidents on facebook, twitter etc and not just hearing about it once on the daily news. Thats just my opinion on it though