When rollercoasters break down – or stop on their lift hills – it is usually made a big deal of by tabloids and news organisations.
Usually explained by power cuts or safety systems stopping the rides in a controlled, forceless manner – guests a virtually never in any danger of harm.
While it’s true that the incidents are sensationalised in predictable fashion by red top newspapers, even more respected and neutral organisations such as the BBC tend to go with the stories.
It has to be said that the interest from the public is certainly there – the stories will often trend at the top of the most-read list on BBC News website.
It could be that the malfunction of a machine designed to deliver intense thrills in a completely safe way is startling to people.
A large degree of public opinion of theme park rides is that they are inherently unsafe. These would be the people that always refuse to ride – or perhaps the ones that claim they “almost fell” out of restraints.
Ultimately, it is likely that the intense interest in the common and safe ride malfunction comes from people that most fear the rides in the first place.
Perhaps they are somewhat comforted and reassured by the reinforcement of their view that rollercoasters can be dangerous.
While the likelihood of being injured at a theme park compares extremely favourably to the dangers of the journey made to it, it can’t be disputed that there will always be those that fear the inversions and heights of the theme park ride.