Patron injured on Twisted Timbers from flying cell phone

[malem]

Six Flags Great Adventure bans all loose articles on El Toro and Kingda Ka, even if they're in a zippered pocket. There are no metal detectors, but guests with a phone out in line or in the station will be kicked out of line.

As annoying as this policy is for enthusiasts who know to use zipper pockets, I'm beginning to support it on rides with extreme changes in speed/direction. Having my phone in line isn't worth risking someone else knocking my eye out with their phone.

24 minutes ago, Gannersdaddy said:

Maybe something like this helps?

http://www.wave3.com/story/35658459/kentucky-kingdom-shares-photo-of-now-banned-coaster-rider-with-his-phone

Each coaster at Kentucky Kingdom has a large sign explaining that phones can't be out while riding.

Security there doesn't mess around, and guests seem to take the rules very seriously as a result. I witnessed one very unhappy group being escorted off park grounds when I was at KK two weeks ago.

[TheRickster]

Rides are just a lot more aggressive now than they used to be, people do think their phones are secured, but a pocket is not secure unless it's sealed. With the way the seats and restraints hug you, especially on modern coasters, the phone is probably already half way out when you're sitting down and up the lift hill. Then factor in all the up and downs and a phone can even be pushed out of a back pocket.

There needs to just be more attention called to the issue, and people need to be educated that even pockets aren't secure. Then fines/punishments need to be aggressive and posted as mandated by the state in case of accidents.

[sixohdieselrage]

How do you forget you have your phone in your hand? It seems to be a fifth appendage these days. 

 

[Tera Ryzing]

9 hours ago, TheRickster said:

Rides are just a lot more aggressive now than they used to be, people do think their phones are secured, but a pocket is not secure unless it's sealed. With the way the seats and restraints hug you, especially on modern coasters, the phone is probably already half way out when you're sitting down and up the lift hill. Then factor in all the up and downs and a phone can even be pushed out of a back pocket.

There needs to just be more attention called to the issue, and people need to be educated that even pockets aren't secure. Then fines/punishments need to be aggressive and posted as mandated by the state in case of accidents.

IMO the only rides that are agressive is all RMC's and most Intamins in the states.

[sixohdieselrage]

8 minutes ago, Tera Ryzing said:

IMO the only rides that are agressive is all RMC's and most Intamins in the states.

Doesn't surprise me. And we know why.

[Winterfestguy]

At Kings Island Sunday we were assigned the back of the train (row 12) at Mystic.  As soon as we left the station we saw 4 different people take out their cell phones and started recording.  We were horrified that one would become loose from their hands and hit us so we could not enjoy the ride.   Universal had to install metal detectors at their coasters due to several court cases with loose items on their dueling dragons coaster before it was removed.   People using cell phones (or forgetting to secure loose items like coins) continues to increase every operating day.  If the parks are serious about rider safety, then metal detectors at the coaster entrances are likely the only solution.  I hope something is done soon to prevent injuries such as the one described in this post.

[teenageninja]

I think everyone should just wrap themselves in bubble wrap and wear helmets on the rides instead.

[disco2000]

I have posted on this forum in the past that every time someone does something stupid on a ride that results in serious injury or death in the industry, the industry response is an additional measure on rides whether similar in nature or not (adding seatbelts to Diamondback after being in operation how many years, going from buzz bars to lap bars and seat belts, etc.), that it will get to the point that each coaster train will be fully enclosed so that someone can't fall out and if they have loose articles it only hits themselves.  Imagine riding Diamondback without getting to feel the wind in your face....now this may be an extreme solution but each time an incident like stitches required for a flying cellphone gets us one step closer to having such overly restrictive ride experience it takes the whole joy out of the experience.

If you see these things happen, bring it up to the ride ops - if they don't do anything go to guest services.  If we just sit back and wait for industry knee jerk responses to accidents, I assure you that we will not like the over the top solution as it may ruin the ride experience...

[BoddaH1994]

On 6/15/2018 at 6:08 PM, disco2000 said:

I think nothing is done (other than not having staff to do it) because they don't want negative FB reviews of someone saying their pass was revoked because they had their phone out.  Personally I think the bad press of a serious injury or death is worse, but until such event happens, countless selfies and videos will continue to be posted from on rides...

Metal detectors at each ride will end up being the solution if it isn't got under control by other means...

Nah.  Nothing to do with Facebook reviews.  It's the same problem with line jumping.  It's your word against someone else's.  They know neither of you.  Who are they supposed to believe?

The best solution? Anyone caught with a phone out is escorted out of the park.  Plain and simple.  Maybe signage stating this as well.  Set that precedent from the beginning and the problem will be minimized quickly. 

[MDMC01]

On 6/15/2018 at 10:43 PM, TheRickster said:

Rides are just a lot more aggressive now than they used to be, people do think their phones are secured, but a pocket is not secure unless it's sealed. With the way the seats and restraints hug you, especially on modern coasters, the phone is probably already half way out when you're sitting down and up the lift hill. Then factor in all the up and downs and a phone can even be pushed out of a back pocket.

There needs to just be more attention called to the issue, and people need to be educated that even pockets aren't secure. Then fines/punishments need to be aggressive and posted as mandated by the state in case of accidents.

This is why my fanny pack goes into a locker on rides like Steel Vengeance and Millenium Force. I'd like to enjoy the ride, not worry about my stuff  

And yeah, people shouldn't have their phones out on rides, end of story. I support what Kentucky Kingdom did. 

[Tera Ryzing]

I wonder if a security guard was kicking people out of the park left and right for line jumping, phones on rides etc.  That management would tell him/her to tone it down if there was complaints.

[Oldiesmann]

For what it's worth when I rode Beast on Monday they did say they would call security on you if they caught you with your phone out.

[disco2000]

5 hours ago, BoddaH1994 said:

Nah.  Nothing to do with Facebook reviews.  It's the same problem with line jumping.  It's your word against someone else's.  They know neither of you.  Who are they supposed to believe?

The best solution? Anyone caught with a phone out is escorted out of the park.  Plain and simple.  Maybe signage stating this as well.  Set that precedent from the beginning and the problem will be minimized quickly. 

True but if management isn't making it a priority there is a reason - is it because it is statistically rare someone is injured so they don't enforce; is it they don't want to burden guest services with ticked off people who had their phones taken or being kicked out of park; they don't want the negative reviews, or some combination of these and others.  

Let's face the reality that more people would go in and complain to guest services about having their phone taken from them for the day or being kicked out of the park than those of us that log a complaint about someone with their phone out.  Maybe our resident pollster should start a poll on here lol...

I agree though - set the precedent early and go after banning folks that post illegal POV and the problem will be minimized before the industry has to take more extreme measures.

[d-lo775]

Took a ride on Diamondback yesterday about 4, in row 2. The girl in the front row had her phone out and clearly visible in the station. The ride operator and the person on the left side checking restraints said nothing. The person on the right checking her restraint, only said “don’t take any videos or pictures while riding.” Made me feel really safe since she was sitting right in front of me. 

[BeeastFarmer]

If metal detectors are in place, are there medical exceptions?  For instance, I use a Dexcom CGM (continuous glucose monitor).  The sensor is metal and attached to my skin.  The receiver is an app on my phone.  If the sensor is more than 20' out of the range (Bluetooth), the reset period can be long.  My phone is always in a zippered pocket.

[Tera Ryzing]

30 minutes ago, jtro223 said:

If metal detectors are in place, are there medical exceptions?  For instance, I use a Dexcom CGM (continuous glucose monitor).  The sensor is metal and attached to my skin.  The receiver is an app on my phone.  If the sensor is more than 20' out of the range (Bluetooth), the reset period can be long.  My phone is always in a zippered pocket.

I am sure there would be exceptions.  Why dont you go up the exit ramp due to your condition.

[BeeastFarmer]

1 minute ago, Tera Ryzing said:

I am sure there would be exceptions.  Why dont you go up the exit ramp due to your condition.

There is no reason to use the exit ramp.  Type One Diabetes does not impede my enjoyment of the park.  I just have to watch my glucose levels and carry glucose tablets and an insulin pen with me.  The extra steps going through the regular queue are what, I consider, I benefit.

[FoF96"]

What I will say is that if there is one thing Kentucky Kingdom is consistent on, it is the Ride Lite policy.  Their coasters don’t have mics on the lifts like Kings Islands do, so the last opportunity to communicate is in the station.  While I was there, there was only one time I was able to justify stopping a ride already in progress.  A guest pulls an iPad out from his shirt.  How tf does anyone think it is remotely ok or safe to pull out an iPad while on a coaster.  The same guest had the nerve to attempt to say they weren’t going to hand it to the technician responsible for ensuring the ride was safe before restarting it. The tech made the joke to me “he was lucky I was in a good mood or I would have said fine I’m going to start walking down this lift hill and go to the engine room, I’ll start it back up once I hear it hit the ground.”

[Honorarius]

2 hours ago, FoF96" said:

  How tf does anyone think it is remotely ok or safe to pull out an iPad while on a coaster.  

Narcissism… These people believe that their need to broadcast their every moment (and the belief that other people give a hoot about them) outweighs any rules or thoughts of safety of the other people on the ride and in the park...

[disco2000]

Even after Twisted Timbers accident that started this thread they are still having people stuff their stuff down their shirt - stuff is still flying out for those with large shirt openings...

[King Ding Dong]

Welp I guess it won’t be to long before they build all coasters like this to keep the loose articles contained.

 

[d-lo775]

Glad to report that my rides on Diamondback last night were not like the one I experienced on Tuesday. Operators were really enforcing the no loose articles with multiple announcements about not having your phone out on the ride between trains entering the station.

[Bansheeback]

Here’s the problem. As ride operators, we are not allowed to stop lift hills anymore solely based on guests having loose articles out. All we can do is speak over the lift hill speakers. Sad but true.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Honorarius]

So you tell them to put it away, they ignore it, nothing else is done and that sends a message to the other people on the train that having your phone out is an acceptable practice...

Great plan!!!

[PKIVortex]

Yet Cedar Point can stop lifts and take people's phones. Sometimes I get the Impression some of the ops don't care.

 

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

 

 

 

[Bansheeback]

Yet Cedar Point can stop lifts and take people's phones. Sometimes I get the Impression some of the ops don't care.
 
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
 
 
 
 

It’s not the ride ops’ decision on whether we can stop the lift or not. It’s the ride departments’ new rule this year that we aren’t allowed to stop the lift based solely on a phone.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[King Ding Dong]

1 hour ago, PKIVortex said:

Yet Cedar Point can stop lifts and take people's phones. Sometimes I get the Impression some of the ops don't care.

The standard reply on this forum goes something like this “The two parks have different coasters and restraint systems and therefore have different loose article policies.” 

1 hour ago, Bansheeback said:

It’s not the ride ops’ decision on whether we can stop the lift or not. It’s the ride departments’ new rule this year that we aren’t allowed to stop the lift based solely on a phone.

The personal injury lawyers are drafting plans to build new wings on their houses right now.  

[LuvingKI]

On 6/21/2018 at 9:04 AM, Honorarius said:

Narcissism… These people believe that their need to broadcast their every moment (and the belief that other people give a hoot about them) outweighs any rules or thoughts of safety of the other people on the ride and in the park...

Exactly! I deleted FB over a year ago due to the narcissism.  

[Winterfestguy]

It took a man loosing his eye after being hit with a loose object on Dueling Dragons back in 2011 before Universal Orlando management actually took things seriously - the coasters never dueled again and several years later metal detectors appeared at all their coaster queues.  With the July crowd peak season about to start at KI, I hope it doesn’t take someone loosing an eye for park management to decide on some type of solution to keep riders safe from flying phones (and even saw an iPad come out earlier this season at KI after the train had left the station - ouch if that hit you!).

[Oldschool75]

I think it’s going to take making it a felony and a federal charge so it is the same in all states to stop this. As soon as the first person is charged and spends some time in jail or heavily fined, it will stop.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk