Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers - carriage collision

Far and away the worst interview I've ever seen. Should be sent back to journalism classes. Congratulations to Nick Varney for keeping calm and professional, I would have been shouting and swearing at that idiot by the end.
 
cheesyboy said:
I've been reliably informed, by someone who know about this sort of thing, that Nick Varney's handling of this accident in the media has been "textbook" from a a PR damage control angle.
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I'm not sure what else anyone would have expected :confused:
 
Late news, just seen a BBC report saying some other theme parks have also closed since the incident on the smiler. Could this mean it is a mechanical/computer issue and not staff based :confused:
 
Not sure if they were doing that as a precaution as some other of the parks have rides from the same manufacturer group.

Not sure if its just doing an inspection to safegaurd themselves and to look like there actually being proactive or something has been identified

Probabably the former and latter


Apparently the other girl is still in critical condition? (Not Leah but Vicky?)
 
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TechMinerUK said:
Late news, just seen a BBC report saying some other theme parks have also closed since the incident on the smiler. Could this mean it is a mechanical/computer issue and not staff based :confused:
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As with most such incidents, this is going to be a multiple failure, part of it will certainly be attributed to operator error or procedure or both.

Certainly something must have gone wrong mechanically or in software. Nobody makes a toy like this then puts not crashing in the hands of a bored low-paid and stoned moron.
 
DJMK4 said:
Apparently the other girl is still in critical condition? (Not Leah but Vicky?)
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Yeah wasn't that at the bottom of statement from their solicitor after covering the more important bit about the compensation they will be demanding... :rolleyes:
 
If it's human error I think it must be on the part of the maintenance staff that were running tests before the crash. Surely the ride operator themselves would not be able to override any automated safety mechanism that was built into the ride? I'd like to think it would be almost impossible for human error to become a factor, otherwise the systems are pretty pointless.

I've seen a forum post from someone that said they had added an extra car onto the track to get ready to make up for the delays from previous faults. I can't help think that perhaps they counted the cars at the station and forgot that one had been added...

I do feel a kind of attachment to Alton Towers, we've had annual passes for a year until this May and I've taken my 2-3 year old daughter on a lot of the rides she's allowed on, including runaway mine train. I am really quite over protective with her, and I wouldn't let her on any rides at the seaside or places like that, but I've always thought that AT kept a higher standard and would be safe...
 
I actually want to smash that bint in the face :mad:

She seems intent on hanging on to the logic that "derp.. an accident occurred therefore it was never safe in the first place.. derp". That totally ignores the principles of good H&S management which is all about continual improvement (HSG65).

I don't want to defend Alton Towers, but if a freak series of events (failures) have occurred then even with the best fault tree analysis flow charts, the best they can do at this stage is react by closing that particular gap. Claiming it was "never safe" is pretty sensationalist, more like "unforseeable". Depends on the series of failures I suspect.

Classic example: Texas City oil refinery incident, 2005. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_City_Refinery_explosion

A series of mechanical and training failures leads to a pretty deadly outcome. Was the plant safe by design? Yes, but nothing is ever truly safe, 100% of the time.

The more I watch that video the more I want to screwdriver my own eyes out.
 
I hate her with a passion, she's been interviewing and news reading in this manner on sky for years. One of the worst news readers I've ever watched, how the bosses think she's good at her job is beyond me. Been making my blood boil for as long as I can remember. Disgusting human being, typical scum ridden journalist looking for an angle everytime she sits in front of the camera.
 
WOW what a ****!

Just looked on her twitter page, correcting people on their grammar mistakes, etc... she is an absolute idiot who needs hurting in the most awful way.

Burley is twice divorced and has one son from a one-year marriage to Steve Kutner..

Why am I not surprised.
 
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