Roller coasters, g forces, and brain trauma: on the wrong track?

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Neurology
• Amusement Ride Safety

Background:

• Public concern and proposed legislation regarding roller coaster G forces and potential brain injury.
• Anecdotal reports suggest a link between roller coasters and head trauma.
• G force alone is an insufficient metric for assessing brain injury risk; head acceleration is critical.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify head accelerations experienced on high G roller coasters.
• To compare estimated head accelerations to established injury thresholds.
• To evaluate the scientific basis for concerns about roller coaster-induced brain injuries.

Main Methods:

• Acquisition of G force data from three high G roller coasters.
• Development of a mathematical model simulating head rotational acceleration.
• Calculation of peak head rotational accelerations using worst-case scenarios.

Main Results:

• Estimated peak head accelerations were significantly lower than levels known to cause injury.
• Even conservative worst-case scenarios did not approach injury-predicting thresholds.
• The study found no evidence supporting mechanical deformation or injury to the brain from current roller coasters.

Conclusions:

• Current roller coaster designs and operation do not generate forces sufficient to cause brain injury.
• Head acceleration, not G force, is the relevant biomechanical factor for injury assessment.
• Findings do not support legislative action based on current roller coaster G forces.