Even knowing all of this physics stuff, are without it, you should NOT drop a penny, nickel, quarter, dime, dollar coin, or a fifty-cent piece off of GD ever. Why would you say it is ok, are you just straight out stupid or something? Must be.
Universal Orlando Mechanical Engineer Marathon down, Goofy to go.
I was hit by a nickel two weeks ago from giant drop. At first I didn't know what it was, and it just felt like a small punch. I hit my cousin cause I thought he hit me, but I later found the nickel in my shirt.
It dosen't hurt, but if it falls in someones eye, then it would do some damage.
What giant drop really needs is for riders to remove shoes, sandals, whatever is on their feet (minus socks, etc.). They also need to have people turn their pockets inside out and they need to be clear of everything (it must be left in a ride bin, locker, or with a non-rider - they could take the S:UF method and make everyone rent a locker with a 2 hour limit). In addition to the hand check, they should also do a mouth check (I know it sounds weird).
This sounds extreme, but it's for safety. And, I suppose someone could put change in their shirts or pants, but at least if Six Flags does catch someone, the rider can't say it was an accident.
Can you say slow load time (even slower than it already is)? Those are extreme measures and they would only need to be taken if somebody got seriously injured.
Well it has been around for seven years, people dropping change every single year, and nobody has been hurt. They do everything that they need to do by making you show them your hands, and if they see you have a camera or some other loose object, telling you to put it on the ground.
They just need to have the bottom surrounded like a mine type thing. Then off of that have a roof over the whole loading area so that no one would be able to get injured. Do ya see what I am saying? Like have it enclosed at the bottom where the brakes start.
There are alot of injurys at parks that no one knows about parks try and keep it on the down low they don't want to announce to eveyone that their ride is unsafe or someone got hurt on an attraction. Some accidents are going to get out like Demon getting stuck in the loop you can't really hide that. Someone getting hit with change can be taken to first aid in a matter of seconds without people even knowing what happened.
I'm sure if anyone got hurt and six flags had to pay a "settlement sum" the park would make sure it didn't happen again. The cost of "a settlement" would be higher than enforcing extra safety measures. I don't understand how anyone can get hit anyway. Isn't there a roof over the line?
Why would Six Flags get sued for something that was entirely the fault of a rider? They have signs posted all around that says something along the lines of "Riders may not drop any objects or spit off of this ride"
Anybody can sue anyone these days. In all likely hood they wouldn't even know which rider dropped the item off of the ride. And even if they did the person could sue, SF and the rider if they wanted to. Heck they could probally sue Intamin becuase they manufacture the ride.
Don't forget McDonalds was also sued because someone spilled coffee on themselves and claimed they didn't know it was hot. So now they have the caution this cup contains hot beverage junk on the cups.
I can't believe you guys are still talking about the change thing. Of course someone will get hurt because some idiot will go too far and push the limits - maybe it'll be 6 - 50 cent pieces, or a small camera, or whatever -- SOMEONE is going to get hurt if people are that stupid with those kinds of objects on rides. I'm sure there are many bruises, cuts, etc. that have gone unreported from all the drop towers in the US. Regardless of how hurt someone gets from dropping something - it still is going to hurt. Just don't do it, end of story!
Last edited by coasterzak on July 12th, 2004, 10:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.