why do scientists LIE and say there is more chance of dying in a car wreck?!

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

You need to consider two things. There is a higher probability of a car crash than a plane crash (and it is just statistics, numbers of planes and space versus numbers of cars on confined road space), but if you have a car crash there is less likelihood of dying than if you are in a plane crash. That means the impact of a car crash is usually less.

As for the pilots, on the commercial airlines you won't find many (if any) high risk pilots. The job is actually more like an airborne desk job (not exciting in any way). The problem is more likely that they are too accustomed to letting the plane do the work, so when something goes wrong they forget or panic and don't go back to the basics of their training.

Also consider that the regulations for aircraft and commercial pilots are really strict. Going up in a light aircraft, and flying in that airspace with all the trainees is a bit risky, but at the altitude for commercial flights, you are a lot safer.

NITRAM - I guess as a safety engineer they didn't teach you the statistical analysis of risk. Calculating the risk is a combination of Probability and Impact. There is a much higher probability of having a car accident. However, in most cases, the impact is low, often only involving damage to the car.

To calculate the probability of dying in a car crash, you need to calculate first the probability of having a car crash, and then the probability of dying in a car crash. Here is where the second part of the equation arises, as the Impact of the crash is higher based on the amount of damage resulting from the crash. Obviously, this is very high if the result is death.

As for providing evidence, it would seem that you have not comprehended my answer, or did not read it carefully. I said higher probability of a crash, not a fatal crash, and we are talking about Nemesis taking a commercial airline, not using general aviation. However, the results of fatal crashes for commercial airlines versus car crashes is still lower. If you read the following article, you need to read to the end to find the info on commercial airlines. You also need to remember that there is a general decreasing trend of commercial airline crashes as safety improves. This has a bigger impact on commercial airline crashes and fatalities, because there is still no cure for the young hoon factor which accounts for a very large number of car crash fatalities.

http://www.crashstuff.com/driving-or-fly…

This time please read before commenting to save yourself further embarassment. Risk Assessment is something I have studied, applied and trained others in.

My uncle is a pilot (not for the airlines)
Air crash investigation program

Surprisingly that's a good question, and it's not scientists who say this stuff it's mathematicians. I use to work as a safety critical engineer in the transport sector and as a scientist for the government.

The stats published by the airline industry always quote deaths per passenger mile. The other view is deaths per passenger journey. Then the curves are reversed. It's a very good question.

Take the train! It comes out well on both curves.

ETA

"You need to consider two things. There is a higher probability of a car crash than a plane crash"

Unless you can provide evidence for that then you need to withdraw the statement or qualify it. The question wasn't about crashes, it was about dying in a crash. The answer is not black and white as you suggest, see my answer above.

" There is a much higher probability of having a car accident."

The question didn't ask about the probability of having an accident. He asked about the probability of DYING in an accident. Totally different question. As for your statement do you have any supporting evidence and on what are you basing the evidence. I stated that the airline industry always cites deaths per passenger mile. Now to your statement I am not sure you're right even though you are now saying incident not death. Are you going by per passenger journey or per passenger mile?

I agree, I've always thought that was a lie as well. But they rationalise it by saying it's because there's more traffic on the roads and therefore more chance of a collision. Plus lots of other factors, like roadkill, drink-driving etc. and also, planes have 4 engines. You would have to be REALLY unlucky to get caught in a plane crash... but if you do, my mum always said "you may as well put your head in between your legs and kiss your *** goodbye..." - I've heard of people being in plane crashes and surviving though. WHO KNOWS.

Probably because it is true. Deadly car crashes are much more common than plane crashes. Granted, if you're in a plane crash, you're more likely to perish, but they crash so infrequently.

http://www.nsc.org/news_resources/Docume…

Why bother with a plain when you can keep getting high on the ground?