Congressman Markey's web site

[Marko]

Take a look at the graph on his web site:

 

http://www.house.gov/markey/amusement.htm

 

He uses a strange unit of measure, 'Fatality Rate per 100 million passenger miles' claiming roller coasters are right behind automobiles in deaths. He doesn't offer any detail data to support the graph that I can find. The graph apparently is attempting to assert there were only 28.5 deaths attributable to autos from 1997-2003 but again using the unconventional unit of measure. And if you look closely at the graph it indicates the time period is from 1997-2000 rather than 2003 as it states underneath the graph.

 

How can he expect to be taken seriously with such misleading and poorly presented statistics? How did he calculate the number of 'passenger miles' and correlate it to the number of deaths? A quick google search reveals there are approximately 40,000 automobile fatalities in the US per year.

 

If anyone can offer an explanation besides this guy is insane I would greatly appreciate it - thanks!

 

Mark

[DenDen]

Everyone already knows he's a moron.

[Shockwave]

It was a British Prime Minister called Benjamin Disraeli who once said:

 

"There are lies, damned lies, and statistics."

 

People can come up with statistics to prove anything. As much as I'd prefer to see the Democrats in office ahead of the Republicans, in terms of world issues if nothing more, on this issue I don't agree with him in the slightest.

 

Mileage really becomes irrelevant when you consider what each variable is designed to do. Roller coasters aren't there to take you to work or to visit your family. The hazards and risks associated on a thrill ride pale in comparison to what you'd find driving down the street. No-one spends hours looking at their car everyday to make sure that it is running safely and is mechanically sound.

 

At least with Bush & co. in office the exchange rate for visiting the US is ricidulous enough to allow me to visit all these parks while rides are still worth going on.

[ebl]

Senator Markey has my permission to fall off a cliff.

 

If he has things his way, coasters like Goliath Jr. will become the norm. He knows nothing about the amusement industry and has no concept of what will become of it should any of his brilliant ideas ever see the light of day.

 

Eric

[Token Yankee Guy]

I can undertand that coasters need to have safety measures put in place so that the ride-ops themselves are doing a better job. I think most accidents occur because of ride-op neglet. I'm reading this, http://www.house.gov/markey/Issues/iss_amusement_st050519.pdf and it states that 64 people have died since 1987 on roller coasters. That isn't compared to the car accident deaths that we have....per day!

 

Anyway, as long as the rides themselves don't get restricted, then I'm good.

[Real]

Hes using miles as an effective way to prove that coasters hurt people.

 

How many coasters are actually a mile long? Then compare that with how many times you drive, bus or take a train. Strategic politician work there.

 

Idiot.

[Marko]

To me the graph implies they added up the track lengths of all coasters in the United States, converted the measurements to miles, and then somehow calculated the number of riders that traveled the overall distance over a multi-year period. But that's just a guess, without any supporting detail data there's not much else any tax-paying citizen can do.

 

His web site is a shining example of why politicians are all too often not trusted by the general public. His goal is to push an agenda by relying on gullibility or outright lies, it's really very sad. Next step is to write this guy a letter and see if he can explain himself, hopefully many of us will do just that.

 

Mark

[DATman]

LETS WRITE HIM ANGRY LETTERS, DISPROVING HIS THEORIES AND STUPID GRAPHS

[ShoubraStreet74]

Agh.. it's way too easy to lie with statistics. You can pretty much make anything look bad when you present the statistics in a deceptive way. Is this the reason they put OTSRs on random coasters that don't need it? (Revolution, California Screamin)

[Marko]

I'd say the less the emotion the better if you choose to write him. Stick to asking him to explain the statistics he's using to support his agenda for increased government control of roller coasters and amusement parks.

 

Mark