Why Do Rides Have Restrictive Restraints?

Restraints are restrictive for a variety of reasons at every theme park. While every ride is different, almost all modern rides have some form of restraint to safely secure riders during the ride. These restraints are vital for the safety of the rider as without them, riders could be seriously injured or even killed.
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[@askmiller]

I think I'd rather have tight restraints than too loose restraints. I'm pretty skinny, and when I was younger, often the restraints were a little loose on me. You'd bounce around and slap against them from different forces. It's sorta like how you wouldn't want a loose shoe if you were going jogging.

[@icantthinkofanything798]

That's happened to me, I get in a roller coaster and the over-the-shoulder restraint simply doesn't go down far enough to be remotely tight enough, it feels unsafe and it sucks

[@me-myself-i787]

​@@icantthinkofanything798 Rollercoasters are supposed to feel unsafe. That's what makes them scary! B&Ms are still fun, but not scary.

[@silvergust]

​@@me-myself-i787 i don't think they're necessarily designed to make you feel "unsafe". atleast that's not the appeal for some and it doesn't come off that way to everyone. coasters like that are meant to simply be intense, not make the rider feel incredibly uneasy and unsafe

[@Eli.400]

I went on wonder woman at six flags magic mountain, i knew it was safe but im skinny and me and my 7 year old bro went on the coaster (the height requirement is pretty short) those restraints dag into my lap on that insane ejector airtime 😭

[@HugeRMCFanBoY-bx3od]

Your Safe With Any Restraint Thoug :/

[@starshiranui33]

As someone who is on the larger size, I understand why some people are upset about this but at the end of the day it is for the safety of the riders which they don't seem to understand. Hell, I see it about that Tron coaster Disney has and yet there's a normal-ish seat in the back for people who can't fit the normal restraints, so they're trying to be accommodating.

[@Gloriousturtlechan]

Hi I am a rollercoaster enthousiast and am also morbidly obese. This hasn't always been the case but due to some personal issues I gained a lot of weight. I found myself no longer fitting in rides I used to fit in just fine. It was very humiliating and I felt frustrated. It has motivated me to lose weight again and so far I have lost 25 kg (55 lb). The main motivation comes from not fitting in a brand new RMC'd coaster and I cannot wait to ride it this year! As someone who has been in this position of being too big for a ride I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the concern for my wellbeing. I would not want to ride anything I didn't fit properly regardless of how much it sucks to not be able to participate. Also my dad is 6 ft 5 and he has a terrible time trying to fit into anything that tries to restrain his legs (like some trains on new RMC coasters) he also just cannot fit in some over the shoulder restraints. What I want people to know is that when you're an outlier you cannot expect others to cater to you. Especially not when it comes to safety. UPDATE: I rode the RMC coaster AND I have now lost a total of 45 kg (99 lb). :)

[@bocahdongo7769]

That's honestly a great progress to to lose 25 kg. Definitely already on the right track

[@mothiiee]

I deffo agree that not everything can be made safe for everyone, but i really would love to see more accessible rides, even if in their accessibility it may exclude me, like in your dads case, a ride built for someone like him may mean i would not meet the height requirements bc im 5'2". I can go on other rides, but rn there arent too many rides for ppl who are 6'5"

[@bocahdongo7769]

@@mothiiee Surprisingly those restraint cap could be adjusted to some extend. Moving the demographic height area. Espescially on Asia But, if you live on country that had taller average adult height, you are on bad luck. There's no win with simple restrain

[@Gloriousturtlechan]

@@mothiiee I see what you're saying! I think that would be very kind. Though I think financially that would not be feasible. Even in my country where the average heigh is the highest in the world, my dad is an outlier. Which would make it extremely unprofitable to build an entirely new ride for someone like him. And I do have to say that in Europe it is pretty common for certain seats to be for taller people. And my dad fits those sometimes, it really depends. He fits a lot of rides tho and it doesn't seem to bother him too much! I do think that for riders with a disability it might be nice to see something that can be added and removed quickly to make the ride safe for them so they can ride it. But such a thing has yet to be made (or be known by the public). For now I think we need to content with that there are certain limits in life. Not just on rides but in every aspect.

[@Beelzebubby91]

@@mothiiee It would help a lot to have rides have one if their seats at the start of the line. Then you can check if you can fit in it and meet the requirements before you get to the actual coaster and are told in front of everyone you can’t go on. The Manta coaster in sea world California had this in 2012. Idk if they still do now. It would save time and frustration after waiting in line for 45 min to find out you don’t fit lol

[@ThemeParkCrazy]

I do think some rides could be more body-inclusive, and nobody should have to feel shamed about their weight. At the same time, I understand that this isn't always easy, and that it's more difficult to safely secure a larger person while also accommodating the average guest. I also understand why insurance companies would require stricter restraints after the New Texas Giant and Icon Park accidents.

[@davemccage7918]

Yeah that was an awful one on NTG, and of course the more recent drop tower incident in Orlando. I have never been fat so I can’t say that I know how being body shamed feels , however I almost guarantee that it doesn’t feel nearly as bad as hitting asphalt at 70mph. It has to be embarrassing to take that “walk of shame” off the station platform, but it beats having to cash in your life insurance policy early 100% of the time.

[@Fox_on_a_Rollercoaster]

The thing is, the more open you make make the seats, the less chance there is smaller riders are secured with comfort. This is not fat shaming, I used to not fit on a lot of rides and coasters. Also I'm still thicc, lol. I remember a Zamperla Turbo Force (Like a booster, or propeller) I rode a lot as a kid with very open seats and restrains. I had a tons of room in there. Sliding from side to side, and the hangtime mixed with the rapid slam into the seat really hurt. It was still safe, but not at all comfortable.

[@Irreve-rsible]

I think test seats should be used more, rather than that. It prevents issues from all sides.

[@Blueberrybomb1234]

@@Irreve-rsible They have test seats for all of the rides at BGT, which is great so people don't have to be embarrassed about not fitting.

[@nerdoftheatre]

Honestly, I'd rather feel "stapled" than feel like I'm going to fall out.

[@andyroman8223]

Fun fact: The Grand National at Blackpool pleasure beach used to operate with zero restraints, which is crazy because if you look at back row povs from the 70s, it has a ton of airtime.

[@annearly3200]

I worked at an Amusement park and I have seen guests not seat flat on the seat(not including loop or spinning) so the lap bar does not come all the way down. Because they want to get more lift when coming down a hill.

[@ezrea9313]

I have many friends in the themed entertainment industry, particularly in ride development and implementation. They've said on multiple occasions that there is quickly coming a time when changing the restraint type to fit "squishier" customers (yes, those are the exact words used by folks in the industry) will compromise the safety of the ride. The issue is not inherently with the restraints though; the rides are built to certain standards and specifications, and they have a hard limit on what they can take. Heavier passengers wear out rides and equipment faster because the rides aren't built to handle those extra stresses and strains. Changing the restraint type doesn't really fix that problem

[@MonsterFlame1]

You did it again. Its always good to gain some insight on roller coasters and just how safe they really are.

[@powerfulwitch666]

I will never say this enough, but your clear explanations have definitely made any and all coasters more enjoyable for me, as I understand how safe they truly are! Thank you

[@icantthinkofanything798]

I wonder if to be more accommodating for larger riders it'd be possible for a roller coaster to have one car in the back that seats about 4, and that one has the larger restraints and the higher height requirement. It would lower ride capacity slightly to potentially have empty seats, but it might be worth it for the extra visitors who wouldn't be able to ride other roller coasters, and the publicity that would come from it

[@d.krolmann5456]

Well they actually do that in Germany sometimes. For example, Black Mamba has bigger seats in some rows in the back. They aren’t that much bigger though that still a lot of bigger people would complain that they can’t ride. But I think when it really comes to a certain size there is a reason why some people just can’t ride. And if they are really wanting to ride certain rides that should motivate them to lose some weight.

[@Gloriousturtlechan]

In Europe it is a lot more common due to a lot of tall people. Most of the time for 4 seaters the 2 outside seats are for larger people.

[@caitlynskiff2001]

IDK if you saw but the new Tron coaster at Disney is doing this. They have a more accommodating seat in the back row on a couple trains (not all though).

[@Irreve-rsible]

I know that Wild Eagle at DollyWood already does that, and has a row with bigger seats and extended seatbelts. Not sure about any other B&M Wing coasters.

[@AlexandraKrongel]

The Hulk at Universal has this too! It seems like a great compromise

[@patricktho6546]

That's kinda the definition of restraints, to restrict you from doing things/having done things to you

[@mnemonichotpocket]

Shhh....you'll hurt their feelings. They worked really hard on this. Let's all just let it roll this time...

[@ConceptualCoasters]

and yet people still whine about being stapled

[@PetstoUwU]

Some B&M Coasters have special seats for overweight people. That said sitting in those as a skinny person is always a lot of fun because you have the feeling of freely jumping around in your seat ^^

[@Specialguy29]

As I ride operator on aplengeist, I’m pretty sure the only difference that the bigger seats just have one higher click to verify

[@Dream_Sweet_In_Sea_Major]

How can I discreetly show this to my friend whos main fear is slipping out of the roller-coaster?

[@Kyle_The_Mighty]

As someone who loves roller coasters but has put on a lot of weight over the last few years I get frustrated but also totally respect when I just don’t fit in a ride. The kid who fell out of a giant drop ride not that long ago did so because he was too big to ride but the operator let him anyway, so if after all the pushing, the operator can’t fit me in, I’m not making a scene and just leaving. However I do think there is a way they can accommodate bigger riders like myself. Give a larger row. And I don’t mean like what a lot of rides have where there’s a bit more give or a wider seat. I mean one row where the seats are specifically designed for larger guests and that if you’re too small, you can’t ride those seats for safety reasons. Might be a longer line for that one row but a choice between that and not riding at all and I’ll take it. Would also likely mean splitting up parties but if you’re too big to ride you’re going to be split up anyway. Anyway, park owners, feel free to steal my idea. You’ll make plenty of money from people like me and won’t lose any from the rest of the people since they’ll have every other row And of course extremely large people still won’t fit and for some more extreme rides this just isn’t possible. Trust me, we get that. Edited to add that I just saw a comment reference the Tron coaster and that’s a perfect example. There’s an accommodating row in the back. The line is longer but it’s that or nothing and it doesn’t effect the enjoyment of the ride for everyone else

[@sethradspinner]

Have you thought about making a video about the dangers that are associated with portable rides?

[@BackRowCoasters]

1:31 oh cool it looks like Mario is a ride operator lol

[@patricktho6546]

1:05 witch are not needed imo, if your primary restraint is good enough (so safe for many times the maximum loading), like in Germany

[@Black-Swan-007]

Seat belts are redundant. In the unlikely event that the restraint fails, the seat belt will keep you in your seat so you don't plummet to your death.

[@patricktho6546]

@@Black-Swan-007 but you can have that redundancy in your primary restraint

[@BoyRoy18]

Fun facked i found out when i was nozing around in workshop. The millennium flyer from GCI on Joris en de Draak at efteling has a ratched systum, i was told that they needed to hear 2 kliks for it to be safe, so the restrains was not on its last tooth. When i was playing with the loking system this suprised me to be fals (the train was laying apart for its yearly maintenance rebuild.) The mechanism always skiped the first 2 tooths and then locked in place, so when you hear only 1 klik, if that thooth would snap off there where always 2 as a backup. When unlocking i fined out that these first 2 tooth did get used becuause when you let go of the unlocking mechanism to eurly, the locking pall could fall in these 2 tooth. Also, for mostly non coaster attractions with safety bars you can open by yourself, what is still very common in europa, the inspection always wands a 2 handed unlocking system. So you can never accendetly open your bar. If you still flyout because you opend your bar mid ride.... thats natural selection. You then choose to open the bar and thats not on accedent. So that is considert safe and i agree with that

[@Galarticuno]

At the amusement park chain I’ve worked at, we are required to have two restraint/locking mechanisms on every ride save a small few. I’ve also worked on a BnM hyper with the indicators, but we also have pieces of tape on the restraint that if we can see it, we know it’s closed

[@jackieschafer8264]

I always feel safer on over the shoulder restraints. Those old wooden coaster I would always be lifting off the seat. I held on so tight. And besides I would usually get off a wooden coaster with a headache.

[@Canev821]

Me too I always felt like lifting up

[@FFF12321]

Found your channel the other day and I appreciate the short, to the point and factual presentation style! To put my hat in the ring re: sizing, us big and/or tall people understand that there will be limits somewhere but it often feels completely arbitrary when there are obvious compromises or minor modifications that could be made that (in my layman's opinion) wouldn't adversely impact ride design My go-to example is Pantheon - why are the headrests so much shorter than others like the ones at Verbolten at the same park? I *barely* fit on Pantheon (due to the shorter headrest) whereas the headrest on Verbolten extends beyond my head so what gives really? For both height and weight, why don't all trains come with a row or car that has a higher minimum height and/or allows for broader guests? BMs already do that on their inverts for example. Why not have a train with a different restraint style that is more inclusive? There could be a bit of innovation in this space to be more inclusive on the design side (especially on the height side) but it certainly seems like people would rather just tell everyone who doesn't fit to lose weight even if really it's a height/body proportion issue.

[@micoasters]

Love the vids, keep it up

[@sophieon3196]

I honestly prefer to feel tightly restrained in coasters, it makes me feel secure and safe. That being said I do have some weird sensory issues, but feeling tightly locked in on a coaster just feels safe.

[@kso808]

Very informative video! 👍

[@emilyniedbala]

Growing up, I LOVED rides but was also very small so I got air time on several rides and loved when I felt like I might fall out… one ride I loved - the Blue Streak at Conneaut Lake Park (RIP), a wooden roller coaster from 1937 - only had a single position lap bar for most of my youth, and I’d fully come up off the seat and only stop when my thighs hit the bar, and it was very thrilling… then they added seat belts, and I got very sad (I also did wear some chunky sneakers to get that little bit of edge in height requirements, haha)

[@inthelaunch9319]

I don’t need a ton of room when I’m riding a coaster, the even if it’s only like and inch or two above my lap, I’m fine

[@ErisIsAnAbomination]

Funny story about ride restraints. Me and my partner rode Thunder Mountain at Disney World last year; that ride has a single lap bar per row. I’m a bit on the thicker side and she’s thin, so she was fighting for her life to stay in her seat during the ride! We agreed to go in separate rows next time, lmao.

[@Fox_on_a_Rollercoaster]

I used to not fit on B&M Hypers and a lot of KMG flatrides. Thankfully I fit very easy now. I only don't fit on very small coaster trains, mostly on kiddy coasters. The restraincheck is important in my experience. For whatever reason, a Mondial Shake R4 was starting the ride without my restrain pins being engaged. The person next to me had no problems. It has sensors to my knowlege, but it seems like the sensors are only there to check if the restrain was down. I lifted up my over the shoulder restrains and the ride came to a full stop, so the ride noticed at least that it was completly open. The gondola was closed for the rest of the fair and repaired afterwards. This ride can have inredibly hangtime or even a wierd sensation of airtime, if the gondola spins and swings right. While it was scary, I sat in the next gondola right after that. The ride is still safe. Those locking pins are beefy as hell. German fairs don't really check restrains, if the ride crew is focusing on the maximum throughput instead of maximum safety. In conclusion: It doesn't hurt to check if the restrain is really locked in place. Stuff can happen. I'll gladly wait a little longer.

[@ktmonibeats3804]

Roller-coasters are the best

[@bananagins7309]

To be perfectly honest I'd rather be stapled into a ride by an operator then have a ton of room especially on some older rides that will slam the lap bar down if it's not already tight

[@nexumie]

I've only been GENUINELY stapled once, many years back as a preteen. It was on a ride that goes upside down and stays there for a little while. My upper leg was blue for a few days because the blood flow got cut off. 💀

[@shiggy6661]

I’m pretty sure it was you that worked at Cedar Point (correct me if I’m wrong ofc) are you going to this year? If so what ride or attraction? Also me and my friends plan to go this year! I’m so excited! I haven’t been since I was 18 so it’s been like 4 years sadly. But I can’t wait to go 😩

[@danielcook4712]

I love roller coasters. I’m also terrified of hights. I want my restraints as tight as physically possible. I will binge ride almost any coaster if the line is short, but I’m also the guy that is always trying to get an extra click out of my restraint. I’ll be wiggling around to find that extra click if it’s there. I also hate the t-bar restraints on allot of newer inverting coaster. Give me over the shoulder, with a lap bar and a seatbelt. Lol.

[@raineylights]

honestly on some rides, restraints could also just be used to stop any customers from climbing out mid ride. (source: I've operated gallopers where customers have switched horses mid ride. sometimes I wish they had restraints just to prevent that happening)

[@Skyliner_369]

I only had one coaster actually staple me. That was Skyrush at Hershey Park. Those were absolute thigh crushers and by the time I got off, well, my legs really hurt.

[@davecoasterdudew1206]

I did some several restrictive restraints even though I had broaded shoulders like Drop Tower at Kings Island in Mason Ohio to get the safety belt to latch, which it did, but got stuck aftermath.

[@Folam]

Why is water wet?

[@zack9777]

Great video

[@carstorm85]

Anyone have the link to the video referenced at 3:42 by el toro ryan?

[@CoasterCollege]

My bad, here you go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6ulpKykYpahe5Y

[@carstorm85]

@@CoasterCollege Thank you!

[@EpsilonR_]

As a ride enthusiast, i'd like to say that I find the term "Stapling" very dumb....it's to keep you safe on the ride, why would someone not want to do what keeps them safe? lol, I always make sure restraints are on properly when riding! It makes no sense that people don't want the restraints properly holding them down lol

[@AmusementParkLife]

Nice

[@SnowghostFilms]

I do have an important question I don’t think has hardly been asked before. My sister has cochlea implants, and would be deaf without them. I have found very little information as to wether or not she will be able to ride any major roller coaster, particularly ones with magnetic brakes and/or launches. I would like to know if she is able to ride any of these rides? I’ll be at Warner Bros Movie World in a few days, and would really like to know.

[@ZefDavenport]

I'm on the larger side, but I've been losing weight quite a lot lately and discovered nature's ultimate trolling: I'm still on the larger side because my skeleton *is actually quite big* . I went to an amusement park this week, and one of the restrains was, literally, pushing against my rib cage. At least I now know that my rib cage will hold me for the entire duration of the ride XD. Thank you for the information, very helpful for next time I go to an amusement park.

[@HugeRMCFanBoY-bx3od]

Buzz Bars: *"Restrictive? Never Heard Of Him!"*

[@MihG26]

hold up ur telling me people clicked on this video expecting a reasoning other than they keep u in ur seat?

[@thomastubev]

The restraints are for you not saying “Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee oh OH WHAT THE F*** WHAT THE F*** HOW THE F*** DID THIS HAPPEN HOLY S*** WHAT THE” *splat*

[@Rollback_Productions_]

Verbolten is my favorite stand up coaster because of its restraints

[@CoasterCollege]

You're the problem

[@virginiamcdaniel7248]

If you’re talking about the one is Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA …it isn’t a stand up coaster…at all. It has a track drop. If you’re able to stand, that’s a severe problem

[@coasthuder]

I agree with what you said but at the end I disagree a bit. I think there is a middle ground about stapleing. My home park is six flags New England and I complain about stapleing the ride opps push the restraint down every when it’s already on your lap I once saw someone wince when a ride push it as far as he could and more

[@docdat3468]

i hate it if i get on a ride and the crew pushes down the reestrain down so far that my sternum get pushed inwards

[@number7red619]

Here in germany that happend to me on the attraction "Infinity". I had a little pocked in front of me with smaller things like my phone or Portemonnaie. It got locked up between the lock and my body. Luckily i could get it out and push the lock close enough so im safe.

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

I’m skinny and I never had restraints too loose thankfully

[@UwePieper]

1:50 It‘s even worse than that. If only one doesn‘t verify the train can‘t leave… *shocking. Isn‘t it 😜🙄

[@PenguinYayOne]

Why don't they use multiple types of restrains within one train to accommodate different height requirements? Carts designed for larger body types would be at the back, more general purpose ones would be in front.

[@CoasterCollege]

Would be an operational nightmare in reality unfortunately.

[@quix9556]

There are some coasters with a modified version of the same restraint to fit larger riders. Some old B&Ms have a larger shoulder restraints in two rows.

[@casuallystalled]

dispatch would be sooooooo slow then

[@Galarticuno]

Thank you for using your platform to say stuff like this, instead of the tired “Restraints are fatphobic, change them” platform. Not saying restraints aren’t fatphobic, but most are with good reason.

[@scubajoe3321]

The little gray dude gained some weight

[@stephanief5794]

i’m a real little person, so i WISH i could feel stapled on a ride lol. i’ve never experienced that.

[@joeyd.6172]

So they don’t fly out.

[@casuallystalled]

Some ride ops really do be slamming it down hard though, but yeah don't try to cheat the system.

[@Canev821]

I don’t think they are to tight. They are good I’m 5’0

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

You should make a video about what a Roller Coaster Tycoon Movie would be like

[@BackSeatJunkie]

Buzz Bars ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! The model for a rider today is outdated. We are getting taller, fatter, and bigger.

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

Do a video on haunted amusement parks in America

[@Kafj302]

I am like number 355

[@cigarsgunsandgasoline8032]

I get a kick out of the rides that have a sample seat at the queue entry and some overweight person STILL gets in line to hold it up because they don't FIT!

[@sudoscience5084]

Well it is funny, but after you've been in a slow-moving queue for a while -- not as entertaining.

[@RideManDave]

You touched on something that, in my opinion, is about to become a big fight within the amusement industry. That’s because there has been a great effort to harmonize ASTM F2291 with EN13814, but there is a huge disconnect between the European attitude and the American attitude. As usual, you can blame the lawyers. Any European manufacturer will tell you that the go/no-go indicator is to indicate that the restraint is locked, but not that it is properly adjusted. In fact, the draft language (I don’t know if it passed, I am not on that committee) of EN13814 actually specifies that the go indicator may not be visible to the ride attendant. Because the attendant is supposed to determine whether the restraint is properly adjusted. In fact, this is critical to that ICON Park incident in that the manufacturer did not provide a standard for the minimum closed position of the restraint. But the manual says nothing about checking the lights; it says the attendant has to qualify the rider. ASTM F2291 requires the indication, but doesn’t specify how the go position is to be determined. Here in the United States, we realize that putting a “locked” indicator on the restraint means nothing, and we know that as soon as someone comes out of a ride where the indicator said go, an attorney is going to jump on that. So here, we want the indicator to be meaningful, so the indicator gets set to make the restraint “safe” for the smallest rider who can be allowed on the ride. This of course makes the required adjustability kind of meaningless. Personally, I think we need to go to something more like the European standard so that restraints can accommodate as many riders as possible, making sure the ride operators have clear guidelines for when riders are properly secured. But I don’t know if that’s possible in the US regulatory and legal climate.

[@RomanSecundus]

do you guys eat bananas?

[@TS_Mind_Swept]

Anyone so prideful they complain about being "stapled" when a restraints simply touching them really doesn't deserve to be called an Enthusiast; that's an elitist, and elitists aren't welcome here

[@michaelcarpenter2498]

But ride enthusiasts don't want their restraints that tight. They may not get the air time and everything else that they crave. I would rather be safe than hurt or killed, but what do I know.

[@mlt6322]

It's because a GUT isn't a natural part of the Human body, It's caused mostly by operator error in handling the body given to you, I know from experience. I have to loose at least 175 lb to get a stomach operation so it doesn't rip apart afterwards, all because of reflux acid damage before it turns to cancer.

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

I can’t stand when overweight people try riding a coaster without trying the test seat if a coaster has one

[@casuallystalled]

i saw that with Iron Gwazi, and then the ride faulted immediately afterwards 🤣 i don't think that was related, but still just made it more embarrassing for the them

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

@@casuallystalled you never know

[@RedsSCABL]

Nice masks!

[@CoasterCollege]

I definitely need some new footage lol