A lap bar is a certain type of safety restraint used in many coasters, including some that become inverted. Often, lap bar seats do not have any additional restraints. While some may not believe that a single bar could be enough protection, a lap bar is extremely safe for most people.

Lap bar restraints are exceptionally safe for their intended use on roller coasters and theme park attractions, provided they are utilized on rides where "inversions" (going upside down) are not the primary feature. In 2026, ride engineering relies on centripetal force and "negative Gs" to keep passengers securely in their seats. For many modern thrill rides, like "hyper-coasters," lap bars are actually preferred over shoulder harnesses because they allow more freedom of movement while still locking the lower body in place, which enhances the sensation of "airtime." Modern lap bars are equipped with redundant locking mechanisms—often both a mechanical "ratchet" and a hydraulic cylinder—that prevent the bar from opening once the ride is in motion. On more extreme rides that feature multiple inversions, manufacturers use "over-the-shoulder" restraints or advanced "waist-and-thigh" bars that provide more points of contact. Safety incidents involving restraints are statistically almost non-existent compared to the billions of riders each year, and most are caused by passenger "misconduct" rather than a failure of the restraint itself.