> Unlike air safety, individual road safety can be increased by any individual...
I think that's a big part of the reason. I know I'd feel a lot safer (if I was qualified) flying an airplane than having someone else do it. Having a large measure of control over a potentially dangerous situation is reassuring.
The other thing is that airplane crashes are very often catastrophic. A whole lot more people survive car accidents than die in them.
The other thing is that airplane crashes are very often
catastrophic. A whole lot more people survive car
accidents than die in them.
You're right in your other point - it seems people don't mind dying so long as they have illusion they could have prevented it. Only when people feel powerless they become afraid.
Re:What's The Safest Seat On An Airplane?
by josefresco on Sunday July 13, 2008 @09:50PM
(#245433)
Stay with us DenisM, the lure of an article/research like this is that we might bale to control (even if only slight;y) something we deemed "out of our" hands previously.
The idea that you can possibly save your own life in a plane crash contradicts what most people believe, which is usually "instant unavoidable death". Unlike ..oh car accidents.
40,000 people die each year in car accidents in US alone, which is a heck of a lot more than in airplanes. Unlike air safety, individual road safety can be increased by any individual; even the safest dirvers can improve thier chance of survival by expending extra effort.
Yet somehow it's a lot more exciting to worry about things you can't control and hardly know anything about. Humans are fascinating. One day I'll figure out what makes them tick.