We will evaluate the roller coasters in the following case studies with respect to three criteria. It is possible to attach numbers to the personal safety aspect of roller coaster design.
Statistics are available on numbers of accidents per year.
Comparisons have been made between a person s safety on a roller coaster versus other activities. Severity of injuries related to park rides ranked far below those incurred due to exercise equipment, horseback riding or even billiards. Our evaluation, however, will attempt to answer the more specific question of whether the newer technologies being applied to roller coasters, particularly those discussed in the section above, have enhanced personal safety on the ride. There has been much discussion about roller coaster enthusiasts and what prompts them to ride. There are psychological aspects that include facing fears, pushing boundaries, and other human psychological traits.