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Hydraulic Restraints Provide a More Comfortable Riding Experience

During my Junior and Senior years of high school I decided to pursue physics, opposed to biology and chemistry. This never amounted to much later in life, but I got to go on the physics class trip to Cedar Point to…learn about physics. If you’ve never been to Cedar Point, it is the world’s greatest amusement park. It was voted “Best Amusement Park in the World” for the past 14 years. It’s also the 2nd oldest operating amusement park in the U.S. and has five top ranking steel roller coasters.

That being said, I’m not very enthusiastic about roller coasters. I used to fear them. Who wants to be strapped into a metal contraption to be thrown and tossed around like a rag doll? I’m not training to be an astronaut. I’ll admit, I’ve warmed up to roller coasters over the years. I do enjoy loops, corkscrews and large turns. However, one thing I still can’t handle is large drops. Feeling like my stomach has moved up to my throat isn’t very appealing to me. If there is no major drop, I can usually “stomach” most rides.

To guarantee riders stay safe and inside their metal coffins, the restraints on most steel roller coasters have been upgraded from the old ratchet-based restraint locks to a hydraulic locking system. Hydraulic locking restraints are currently preferred over anything else. They are comfortable for an array of riders with different body dimensions because they can lock in any position. Each mechanism has two hydraulic cylinders that lock a U-shaped bar around the passenger. Only one cylinder is needed but they are doubled up in case one cylinder fails. For the unlikely chance that both cylinders fail, there are still the seat belts.

With hydraulic restraining systems, riders can enjoy twisting, turning, flipping and falling safely and comfortably. Accelerator coasters need these especially because riders get launched in the air. The Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point reaches 420ft. Unlike most of my friends, I wouldn’t be caught dead riding that coaster.