Fast & Furious Roller Coaster Sparks Noise Battle
New attraction officially opens
Residents report sleep disruption from repeated screams
Complaints persist despite additional sound barriers
Neighborhood councils demand further noise controls
Fast & Furious Roller Coaster screams are colliding with residents’ anger in Hollywood, where the thrill of a new attraction has disrupted the peace of nearby neighborhoods.
At the center of the controversy is “Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift,” the new roller coaster that opened to the public at Universal Studios Hollywood on Sept. 16. The ride brings the popular “Fast & Furious” film franchise to life for automotive enthusiasts.
The roller coaster has drawn noise complaints since test runs began July 27. It reaches a top speed of 72 mph on a 4,100-foot track, while its ride vehicles rotate 360 degrees, prompting a steady stream of screams from passengers.
The problem, residents say, is that those screams travel beyond the theme park and have become a source of distress for nearby neighborhoods.
Fast & Furious Roller Coaster Draws Resident Backlash
Residents held a news conference that day in a residential area of nearby Toluca Lake. Often described as the “Beverly Hills of the Valley,” the neighborhood had long been known for its quiet surroundings.
After enduring repeated screams for nearly two months, however, residents formed Universal City Neighbors and began calling for action.
“During the test runs, it was at least limited to a few hours a day,” residents said. “Now that the ride has officially opened, we have to hear screams seven days a week, from the time the park opens in the morning until it closes.”
During interviews with residents, screams could be heard in the distance at intervals of roughly 30 seconds to one minute.
Universal Studios filled portions of the track with pea gravel and installed more than 900 feet of sound walls and two half-pipe shields to reduce the noise.
As complaints continued, Los Angeles City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian, who represents the area, called for additional sound barriers even though noise measurements met applicable standards. Universal agreed and completed the additional work, but residents say the barriers have not been enough to contain the screams.
Residents Report Sleepless Nights
Resident Fred Iberri, 51, said the noise has caused sleep problems. After nearly two months of repeated screams, he said he sometimes experiences phantom screams even before dawn, when the roller coaster is not operating.
Robert Cerny, 60, who has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years, said the noise remains audible even with his windows closed.
“It has become difficult to do ordinary things like invite guests over or read a book,” he said.
The dispute also highlights Universal Studios Hollywood’s geographic constraints. Residential neighborhoods and a golf course sit directly beside the theme park, making conflicts over noise and other neighborhood impacts likely whenever a new attraction is introduced.
Universal Studios has operated a community outreach website called “Universal & You,” but residents say the company’s actual response has been largely superficial.
They said their complaints have been met with standardized email replies stating that the concerns would be forwarded to senior management and placed on record.
Toluca Lake resident Judith Angel points toward the roller coaster in the distance during a Sept. 16 media conference in the neighborhood, describing how riders’ screams have affected residents.
Neighborhood Councils Demand More Action
With no clear improvement, the dispute has expanded into a broader community response. The Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council and Studio City Neighborhood Council have adopted resolutions urging action on the noise and submitted them to Los Angeles County officials.
Representatives of the neighborhood are also scheduled to meet with Universal Studios officials on Sept. 30 to discuss additional noise-reduction measures.
Resident Judith Angel, 74, said screams trigger an instinctive perception of danger and should not be measured under the same standards as the continuous hum of freeway traffic.
“We are not asking them to shut down the ride,” Angel said. “We just want our quiet neighborhood back.”
As the Fast & Furious Roller Coaster draws crowds seeking high-speed thrills, its neighbors remain focused on restoring the peace they enjoyed before the screams began.
