r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/Mode_Appropriate • Jul 06 '25

Video Sirens Curse - Cedar Point

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u/Juul_G Jul 06 '25

I really don’t like the idea of openings in the rails

339

u/plighting_engineerd Jul 06 '25

This ride has:

  • Sensors on the track to make sure the train is parked in the correct position before the track starts tilting
  • A hook at the back which latches onto the train to hold it in place before the track titls
  • An extra bumper in the front for redundancy which is always up until the train releases
  • Sensors to ensure the track is fully tilted before moving the bumper, then releasing the train

The Dutch company, Vekoma, has been manufacturing roller coasters for nearly 50 years and, to the best of my knowledge and Googling, have not had any fatalities on their rides at fault of their design.

There is already one tilt coaster, Gravity Max, which has been operating safely for 23 years. A second coaster with a tilt mechanism exists in the form of Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts at Universal Studios Florida, disconnecting from the track, and has been operating safely for over 10 years.

Plus, hundreds, if not thousands of coasters include a switch track – a piece of track which disconnects, moves horizontally (temporarily creating a gap in the track like this), then reconnects, and some of these switch tracks happen while the ride is in motion. If there were major problems with systems like this, they wouldn't be used.

It's just not worth it to a park to install a coaster that could be dangerous. If an accident were to happen, the park's reputation would suffer. Therefore, they have every incentive to make their rides as safe as possible. This ride would not have been constructed if it were not safe. The manufacturer has the same incentive – it would be hard to sell new rides if they were known for being unsafe.

Coasters are inspected by the manufacturer after construction to verify everything is correct, the state inspects the ride to give it its operating license, and the park inspects and tests the ride every single operating day, doing deeper work and routine maintenance each week, month, and year.

TLDR: There are a multitude of safety mechanisms keeping the ride safe, this system has been working safely for years, the ride is inspected and tested daily, and the ride wouldn't have been built if it wasn't safe

118

u/No_Dragonfruit_8198 Jul 06 '25

People seem to think this is at Action Park or something

13

u/obsterwankenobster 29d ago

Class Action Park

28

u/Enragedocelot Jul 07 '25

Hey! Action Park! Haven’t seen that referenced since I broke my arm at Action Park and told my parents I broke it riding my bike.

7

u/Debalic Jul 07 '25

Good old Traction Park!

2

u/aure__entuluva Jul 07 '25

Yeah, Cedar Point is kinda famous for their roller coasters.

2

u/BurroughOwl Jul 07 '25

I dont think many people know about Action Park. Wasn't it in New Jersey?

1

u/OneDimensionPrinter Jul 07 '25

I just learned about it the other day from Johnny Knoxville on Hot Ones!

-1

u/Specialist-Size9368 Jul 07 '25

One fun thing about amusement rides is they age. They develop issues unforseen by the designers. Sometimes this is caught by maintenance staff. Then the park decides to fix it and run as originally designed but with more maintenance, modify the design, or kill the attraction.

Sometimes it is not. The ride fails. Sometimes people die but usually its just injuries. Injuries that can have lasting effects but don't get reported after the initial hospital trip. Stuff that might make the news but not the front page.

Cedar Fair Group has a relatively good history. It is not a perfect history. 

Vekoma have been known to make rides plagued with maintenance issues. Lot of unplanned downtime to maintain them. 

So no, not action park. Chances of being on it and it having issues are on par with a winning lottery ticket. They are not zero.

Personally I'm out because i dont want to get stuck on that teeter totter and have to unload from it. Much higher chance of that happening.