It is an age old question. Is land travel safer than air travel? There are statistics that show that the likelihood of an accident is 200 times greater in an automobile than on an airplane. Most people we know have been in at least one car accident. Can we say the same thing about air travel? However, in practicality the chances of walking away from a car accident are substantially greater than that of surviving a plane crash.
We can look to the government and their safety requirements for both forms of travel. Both are stringent and carefully followed. There are strict guidelines for safety features for both.
Is it fair to compare the statistics when there are exponentially more cars on the road than planes in the air? It is more difficult, and requires more school and education to get a pilot’s license as opposed to a driver’s license. There are very few sixteen year old people out there flying planes, but they are driving cars every day of the week. It is much easier to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, then be a pilot and get away with flying under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, it does happen.
We can say that the burden of safety lies with the individual. A pilot goes to work knowing that someone has checked out the airplane he is about to fly. Someone before him has made sure the safety checks are all in place and that the plane is ready and safe. As a driver, it is our own responsibility to ensure the safety of our vehicle and that of our passengers. Make sure your car is kept in excellent running condition, all fluids are checked, and you know what to do in case of an emergency. Don’t get into your car if you have been drinking or doing drugs. Do your part to keep our roadways safe.





