Higher, Faster, Gnarlier: Have Roller Coasters Become Too Extreme? NYT - Top Stories By: John Branch 22 October 2026 at 10:03 A coaster dares riders to be daring, with steep drops, high speeds and improbably tight curves. But safety has become a concern again after a man was thrown from his seat and died in Georgia. © Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images