A Public Relations campaign about park safety?

I have lurked for the past several days not wanting to contribute to the speculation about what happened at HW. While lurking one thing has come to mind, perhaps it is time coaster enthusiast organizations and their local parks (or if someone has a better idea perhaps they can suggest it) develop a public relations campaign that would show how to safely ride a amusement park ride like a roller coaster?

What got me thinking about this was a local event held in a local town along the Chesepeake Bay called "The Blessing of the Bikes". A group of Harley Davidson motorcycle people get together (I believe the first Sunday in May) in this town and a local religious fiqure comes out and blesses the "bikes" for a safe riding season. Perhaps the same kind of event could be held for roller coaster or amusement parks. Other ideas would be a week of various types of events on how to ride a roller coaster safely and achieve peak air time, firemen drills, bless the coasters etc... Just to raise awareness of safety at amusement parks in hopes that tragedies like the one at Holiday World or the one at Six Flags Great America could be avoided.

How would you feel about it? We complain about the uneducated general public, but perhaps they should be educated before we compalin.

*** This post was edited by coasterguts 6/6/2003 12:22:04 PM ***

Perhaps we should be "educated" as well. Although even with that information, it really is up to the individual what they do with the "education".

I was thinking kind of along those lines that we as enthusiasts need to be setting an example of what to do to ride safely. Most of us do this already. Many of trust the design of coaster to keep us safe as it should.

If we were to do something of the sort we also should put into this packet statistics of how safe coasters really are. If one is to truly promote safe riding we must show how safe coasters are to begin with. Otherwise the public will start to believe the lies (as if they aren't already) that they are being fed.

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Zero G Thrills - Moved and Improved

Despite a lot of nonsense press coverage in the last few years over "brain injuries," I don't think there's a negative image regarding amusement rides. Have you seen the lines lately?

As enthusiasts, we're a little shocked from the Holiday World accident, particularly since it involved an enthusiast club member, but the fact remains that overall it's still one of the safest leisure time activities you can participate in.

We don't need any campaign to repair something that isn't broken, but we do, as enthusiasts need to set a good example with regards to being safe, responsible riders. The parks do their job, we need to do ours.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"Pray that your country undergoes recovery!" - KMFDM

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Jeff said:
...as enthusiasts need to set a good example with regards to being safe, responsible riders. The parks do their job, we need to do ours.

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I agree completely. We do have a responsibility. You must always respect the rules for roller coasters. They exist for a reason - to give you safe and fun ride.

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I like roller coasters.

Maybe my perception is incorrect here, but, I read a lot of comments about parks not liking enthusiasts. Is this true or myth?

I agree going to amusement park is safe! But could it be made safer? Could the death of the little girl (sorry I don't remember her name) that swallowed the piece of cotton candy while riding a roller coaster been prevented? Are their similar incidents that could have been prevented by a safety or p.r. campaign?

Would it take a week to train people how to properly ride a rollercoaster? Keep your a__ in the seat, don't fool with the safety restraints. That took me about 5 seconds.

If people choose to ignore the rules then there isn't much that can be done about it.

Guts, it wasn't cotton candy, it was taffy. And if she had followed the posted rules of no food or drink allowed while you are on the rides, she would have been fine... And don't try the argument, "Taffy isn't food." If it goes in your mouth and you ingest it, IT'S FOOD!

Same thing with the tragedy at HW. If what we have heard is true (that Tamar opened her seatbelt) she too did not follow the posted guidelines to keep all restraints on/in proper riding position (which also includes 2-4 click rides), she too, would not have been thrown from the coaster.

As Wahoo said, "If people choose to ignore the rules then there isn't much that can be done about it." That pretty much sums it up...

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--George H
---Currency tracking experiment... http://www.wheresgeorge.com (Referring to The "George" on the $1 bill - Not Me)

Even if there was a program on how to ride a coaster properly, the people wouldnt listen. They don't listen to the signs in the front of the lines, so why would they listen to people talking about it? I think it's pointless and people are just going to do it anyways. But that would be a good idea if people would actually listen.

"We don't need any campaign to repair something that isn't broken but we do, as enthusiasts, need to set a good example with regards to being safe, responsible riders. The parks do their job, we need to do ours."

Amen!

I, too, have refrained from commenting on the events of last weekend and will continue to do so as requested by Pat. However I do feel that, as enthusiasts, we should see ourselves as ambassadors to safe riding. Just because we are enthusiasts and just because we have more riding experience than Joe Park Visitor does *not* mean that we are exempt from park rules nor that we are immune to the effects of gravity and the forces a ride exerts. And we should be particularly vigilant in alerting the park when we see *anyone* doing something foolish.

mOOSH

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Vegas -- June 7-9
ACE Con-Quest -- June 11-22

Good point Moosh. We should set good examples.

However, I do not see enthusiast as any more rule breaking than the GP. I have witnessed many instances of park guest standing (expecially the first drop of coasters). None of these were at coasting events.

I have been to about 5 coasting events and the only rule that I have seen broke was the use of a strap to keep the bar from comming down further. If the bar is in proper possiton before the ride begins, I don't really see it being a big deal but it is breaking the rules.

I might be completely wrong, I don't know but I have seen a lot of normal guest breaking rules as I have seen enthusiast. More likely IMHO is that becuase we are enthsiast, It makes it more high profile and thus the statement of being a good example fits.

Chuck, who tried to get through this post without commenting on the event and will continue to do so.

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Charles Nungester.
It's official Lesourdsville Lake is closed for 2003

I am trying to say, are signs enough? Everyone is having to much fun while at the park, safety is put at the back of the mind until tragedy strikes. We all know the signs aren't read and nothing more than a dislaimer for the park. If something isn't done to improve the safety record of amusement parks then prices are going to keep going up because of liability insurance and government is going to continue introducing legislation that is going to force amusement parks to be safer, eventually leading to the point parks are no longer fun. Don't you think this is going to be a good possibility? Are we getting to the point where enthusiasts are going to police the rides? Do the parks want us to do that? I don't think they do. I don't pay to go to a park so I can yell at a kid because he wants to stick his hand out and tap every wood board on Wild One because he doesn't realize the ride is going 55 mph and one board could take his whole arm off.

Are we getting to the point where parks are going to put traffic cameras on all of their rides and if you stick your hands out of the coaster while riding, security meets you at the exit and walks you out of the park?

Look at drinking and driving. Because people were driving under the influence of alcohol and killing people, gov't stepped in and lowered the blood alcohol level and can take your license away. It took a club over the head before people started to listen and dui fatalaties began to fall. The same with smoking etc.... Except with park safety government is beginning to tap the club and before we know it, it will be slammed.

One last comment, think of the bigger picture and not just coasters.

I'm not suggesting that any one group is better than the other...you'll find stupid people in any group. I'm also not suggesting that we become park safety "nazis." I'm merely sugesting that we should set good examples by following park and club guidelines for safety and, if someone is seen breaking those rules, make sure the park and/or club knows about it.

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Vegas -- June 7-9
ACE Con-Quest -- June 11-22

I don't think there's a necessity for a full fledged p.r. campaign about coaster saftey. Certainly logic dictates in many various instances. However, there are signs at the entrances to many rides, if not all, notifying guests about what to expect and how to ride safely.

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"Enjoy your record-breaking ride on Millennium Force"

Well aparently signs aren't enough and announcements aren't enough based on what I've seen.

Sunday at IB is was riding the Musik Express or Himilaya ride. The operator and the signs both stated this ride goes both forward and backward. Another announcement right before dirrection change and when the ride stopped, This kid jumped out over the bar.

Cause IMHO, The kid could not read or understand english.

Chuck who like Mosh says be a good example and point out or stop unsafe behavior if possible.

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Charles Nungester.
It's official Lesourdsville Lake is closed for 2003

I think that parks should have an ad campaign within the park that reminds everyone about safety. I know Disney is starting to do that. I would like to see other parks to do that too. Like Six Flags could used the WB Characters to promote Safety. They could have signs and also they could put it in the video while waiting in the lines. I think that would get people’s attention a lot more then just a Plain White signs that listed the rules.

Carlo