Six Flags New England modifies Superman, hopes to open this weekend

Not sure I understand how any of that makes the ride safer. Seat belts that were the correct length in the first place would I think have been adequate to measure rider size. The secondary one doesn't do that any better.

Perception sometimes outweighs reality in the minds of some.

What made the ride unsafe before? Does this fix the problem? Could it happen again under any circumstances? Those are questions that I cannot answer at this time but have to be posed.

It kind of reminds me of the debate over vehicle air bags and people wanting to be able to disable them. Note: Kind of.

"NewsCenter 5's Jack Harper reported that a Connecticut man was thrown to his death when the coaster's rider restraints failed, and now a new safety system has been installed."

Is that statement not COMPLETELY false? I thought this was determined to be a ride op/human error? Granted, if someone dies I can see the argument that if someone dies the restraints have failed...however, the restraints were in proper working order, they just weren't put on correctly?

It's just the way they word these things sometimes...

I would not say that the statement is completely false. Failure in birth control is often user error but that is still calculated in the failure rate of the method. Newer methods are not technically better, but they decrease the chance of user error. I think that is what we are seeing here. I will be interested to see pics of the new side and leg restraints.

Come on people. It's a news article- you can't expect much from it anymore, and they're not going to get real in-depth into it, because then most people wouldn't understand how the man flew out.

To me, the restraints sound like a TTD bar with a Premier shin guard.

I assume they have a guage at the front of the line? Maybe that is what they are talking about. They may not want to wait until a guest gets to the seat and then figures out they cannot ride a ride they were able to do last year. Anyway, it sounds painful. I'm sad that I have not been on this ride or to the park yet. I hope the experience remains as exciting as the hype suggested this ride delivered.

Well, they have a new airline-style seatbelt on ride (orange), an airline-style seatbelt attached between the side of the seat onto the grab handle; if that secures, you're fine (apparantly), if not, you won't ride. The 'shin guards' should be more calf guards, as the shin is on the front of your leg - these guards really go down the side of your legs like the restraint would if it were a U-shaped restraint, not T.

I think once your on the ride (if you get on the ride), the changes shouldn't effect the qaulity of the ride too much.

Here is another article on this.
EDIT: I messed the link up.
*** This post was edited by person 5/29/2004 11:36:52 AM ***

Jeffrey:

"All cars on the ride will also have a "size check" gauge that will require the lap restraint bar to be closed to a minimum closure point. If the bar can't reach that point, the passenger won't be allowed on the ride." --The Advocate

So any word on when the other 2 S:RoS will open? I'd have thought they'd get all the parts at once and open them all at once... I guess it'd make sense in MY little world, but not with SF. I know SFA has 6/6 listed on their web site but nobody has heard anything about SFDL. Also I guess I can understand why they would reopen SFNE first, since thats where the accident occurred. But I don't get why there's been no word on SFDL. A coworker kept telling me they weren't reopening it at all this year and I know she's full of you know what. I'd just like some facts to back myself up...

I saw the video on another site & it looks like they've added only the side restraints to the T-bar & shortened the belts...I didn't see any shots of a third restraining belt of any kind at all.

From the sounds of it the side belts will be similar to those on the impulses & V:TBC where you had the little belt on the side of the OTSR instead of on the bottom front portion found on vekoma & B&M inverteds.

All three parks will also be enforcing the 1 inch slack rule used by CP so just be prepared for it,I hope they consider adding test seats to the queue entrances to save guests the trouble of waiting in line only to find out they can't ride...as for me I think I'm still able to fit but I'll find out in a couple of weeks from now.

There is a video showing clearer views of the restraints - and the third 'measuring belt' at http://www.wfsb.com/Global/story.asp?S=1903679

Regarding the end of the video in Marcus' link, I had no idea Superman had purple track...

Yeah, I thought that. I find it amazing that this reporter actually was in the station of said ride, has done research in one form or another about Superman, and then introduces Batman as being 'live footage of Superman'

According to Guest Services at Darien, Superman is now up and running.

Actually, I stand corrected - I dismissed talk of the shin restraint saying it was more of a calf restraint. I didn't realise there were horizontal wotsits above the ankle too.

I fear the glory days of S:ROS are now in the past .... this new restraint system looks horribly uncomfortable and confining - and no matter WHAT your size, they are summarily stapling everyone with the lap restraint, so goodbye airtime. People who rode it today say you get lifted up in your seat but you're so pinned in, there is no real airtime. Sad.... this has always been hands-down my #1 steel ride; it was awesome, and I for one, believe this whole restraint modification thing to have been totally unnecessary - it diverts attention from ride op responsibility with regard to the accident, while at the same time appeasing the state of Mass., Ed Markey, and I'm sure it is conceived to appease the family of the deceased. I also understand they have blocked off the front seats in car#1 "in deference to the family of Mr. Mordarsky" - I don't know if this is temporary or permanent.

^
Yes you probably won't come out of your seat as much as before, but being stapled won't ruin the experience. On MF they staple you down and I was still able to feel the airtime. MF is highly regarding with many people including enthusiasts even though they do make sure that the restraints are as tight as they can possibly be. I wouldn't make any judgements until you have ridden the ride with the new restraints.

The geometry of the new restraints is much the same as that of Premier's restraints. ie You make lap bars really effective by keeping the knees bent. Does anyone know if these restraints were actually designed and implemented by Intamin, or by Six Flags engineering?