GigaG Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 I heard that Massachusetts and New Jersey ban T-bar restraints. Do any other states do this? And is there any proof that a PROPERLY OPERATED T-bar is any less safe than a normal lap bar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetsplumber Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 I heard that Massachusetts and New Jersey ban T-bar restraints. Do any other states do this? And is there any proof that a PROPERLY OPERATED T-bar is any less safe than a normal lap bar? figures NJ, a nanny state , would be on that short list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3Mutts Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 ^ Well it fiqures since they won't let Zumanjaro and Kingda Ka run together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Seriously? This is a thread? There are plenty of attractions across both states that use T-bars, such as Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure and Pandemonium to name a couple popular ones. I really don't see any states "banning" that kind of lap restraint as there are plenty of new rides offered by manufacturers that use T-bars by design (like Great Coasters coasters, for example). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swede Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Seriously? This is a thread? There are plenty of attractions across both states that use T-bars, such as Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure and Pandemonium to name a couple popular ones. I really don't see any states "banning" that kind of lap restraint as there are plenty of new rides offered by manufacturers that use T-bars by design (like Great Coasters coasters, for example). This, and Nitros restraints are darn comfy too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon8899 Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 And what about lapbars that have only one anchor point at one side? Gerstlauer uses them for multiple rides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gecomet92 Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Seriously? This is a thread? There are plenty of attractions across both states that use T-bars, such as Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure and Pandemonium to name a couple popular ones. I really don't see any states "banning" that kind of lap restraint as there are plenty of new rides offered by manufacturers that use T-bars by design (like Great Coasters coasters, for example). It's actually banned in Mass if you want to look it up. It was as a result of the SROS incident. While I'm not 100% sure I think that in MASS they are only banned on hypers. That is why Pandy is ok. I'm not quite sure about Jersey but I assume the existing rides with T-Bars would have to be grandfathered in if that's the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 That makes more sense then, it would also explain why Bizarro switched to U-shape bars. While I do think that it's a bonkers reactive move to straight-up ban that design, there are plenty of other designs that are just as comfortable and also just as safe to use (like the aforementioned Bizarro). If you think that this sort of thing is leading to "the death of the lap bar" or whatever I think you're mistaken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon8899 Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 More Gerstlauer Infinity coasters for us Europeans... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gecomet92 Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 I think it's really kind of dumb, look at all the coasters that use T-bars and have had no injuries or deaths. I think the state was looking for a scapegoat for the accident that wasn't there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dj snow Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Can anyone provide a link to a law or a regulation to back up that this type of restraint is banned in any state? I have a hard time believing it to be true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Can anyone provide a link to a law or a regulation to back up that this type of restraint is banned in any state? I have a hard time believing it to be true. Same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saweetdude05 Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 It's pretty pointless to ban T-bars simply because of a single accident. Millennium Force has been running for 14 years with T-bars AND its original trains with no ejections, Top Thrill Dragster has been running since 2003, same thing: no ejections and original trains. I'm pretty sure Cedar Fair's Intamin rides with T-bars have had zero fatalities on them. If I remember correctly, the SROS incident was majority to blame due to operator error: not making sure the bar was down on the rider's lap, not their gut. Instead of banning T-bars, maybe MA should have demanded SFNE improve their training. On the training note, NTAG has the supposedly 'safer' U-bars, and it still ejected someone. Most likely MA banned the T-bars to calm the public down and show that they were 'keeping people safe'. In reality, Six Flags should have been forced to modify how it trains employees so that and ejection would not happen again. Any restraint can have an ejection, it's up to the operators to ensure every guest is checked and locked in properly. Restraint sensors and new trains can only do so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GigaG Posted July 18, 2014 Author Share Posted July 18, 2014 ^ I thought NTAG had a form of T-bar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saweetdude05 Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 ^My mistake, it does have T-bars. However, that would also help my point of proper training. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerstlaueringvar Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 Is there a proof that U bar, OTSR's, SkyRush style lap bar, DDD style lap bar etc are safer than T bar? If not, banning T bar seems kinda stupid. Also, it would be interesting to know how Kentucky define the type of lap bar on Lightning Run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 Can anyone provide a link to a law or a regulation to back up that this type of restraint is banned in any state? I have a hard time believing it to be true. Same. All I can find with some quick searching was this snippet from an article on RideAccidents.com, talking about Superman the Escape and Xcelerator - http://www.rideaccidents.com/2004.html#jun1b Intamin's T-shaped safety restraint bar -- used on both California rides -- was recently banned by the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety after an investigation into a fatality involving Intamin's Superman Ride of Steel roller coaster at Six Flags New England theme park in Agawam, Massachusetts. --- Intamin's Superman Ride of Steel roller coasters at Six Flags New England, Six Flags America in Largo, Maryland, and Six Flags Darien Lake in New York reopened last weekend after the parks modified those rides' safety restraint systems in accordance with the findings of the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety. Those modifications took about one month to complete. I always wondered why this happened, and now I know - photo of Darien Lake's Ride of Steel... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcjp Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 ^That doesn't seem to make much sense as those additional bars look like they are reinforcing the restraint as if that had been the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerstlaueringvar Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 ^ Jurt like how Six Flags adding unnecessary seat belts on their coaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcjp Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 ^I know. But this one seems worse. Was there any incident where a restraint bar broke? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraroc Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 I've always had the idea of Intamin restraints like on Maverick and Intimidator 305 without the shoulder straps so you're being held just by your lap....I guess the closest thing to that is Skyrush's restraints. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerstlaueringvar Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 ^ You mean kind of like those on Shoot the Rapids and Dare Devil Dive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 Intamin has started putting Skyrush-style overhead lap restraints on their most recent looping /launched coasters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcjp Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 ^But fortunately they're a bit different Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejot Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 Also interested to find a reference to the law that bans this design in MA and/or NJ. I just read through MA 520 CMR 5.0x and some of NJAC 5:14A, and I'm starting to wonder if some sort of misunderstanding has created a rumor. The MA law does include some specific design requirements in section 5.07 but treads pretty lightly, mainly offloading the burden via the inclusion of ASTM standards into the law. I started reading these and even they seem quite vague. Perhaps we should maintain a healthy skepticism until there is a conclusive document Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now