Anderson Injury Lawyers | July 31, 2023 | Car Accidents
Both flying and driving can be equally aggravating forms of travel these days. But arriving at your destination with your blood pressure within normal limits is only one of your concerns. You also want to ensure that you and your loved ones arrive safely.
With that being said, you may wonder if any objective measure exists that can settle once and for all whether it is safer to fly or to drive. There is, in fact, a difference, with one being markedly safer than the other.
National Statistics Show the Risks of Driving
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported a total of 5,215,071 crashes on U.S. roadways in 2020 that did not result in any fatalities.
Still, NHTSA data also found that 2,282,015 people were hurt in wrecks, and 38,824 people died in separate accidents. Given that roughly 332 million people live in the United States, about 0.7 percent of the population is hurt in car accidents.
Broken down, these statistics reveal the following outcomes regarding crashes in 2020:
- Every hour, approximately 595 traffic crashes occurred throughout the U.S.
- On any given day, 6,252 people were injured in an auto accident
- Over 100 people per day, or about five per hour, died in a car wreck
- If an equal number of people died in each state from traffic crashes, 776 people in each state would be killed that year
Some Dangers Associated With General Aviation
The National Safety Council (NSC) asserts that commercial air travel is statistically one of the safest modes of transportation.
In 2021, a total of 376 air-related fatalities were reported: 372 being passengers and the remaining four being people on the ground at the time and site of the crash. However, all those who died were involved in the flight of private civilian aircrafts — there were no deaths resulting from commercial air travel in 2021.
These statistics are not an anomaly, either. The NSC reports that your odds of dying in a commercial aviation accident at any point in your lifetime are so low that they are practically incalculable.
That does not mean, though, that commercial flights are entirely uneventful. Onboard disturbances from unruly passengers increased from one incident per 835 flights in 2021 to one incident per 568 flights the following year. Most of these involved drunk or verbally abusive passengers and, thankfully, only resulted in delays and inconveniences, not injuries or deaths.
Safety Tips When Traveling By Car
From the statistics listed above, it becomes clear that you are far more likely to be involved in a car crash than a plane accident.
Nevertheless, you can reduce the likelihood of you and your loved ones becoming part of NHTSA’s crash statistics in the following ways:
- Get plenty of sleep the night before a long drive
- Ensure your car is in good working order before leaving your house
- Do not drink and drive or consume cognitive-impairing drugs while driving (DUI)
- Obey all traffic laws, especially speed limits
- Adjust your driving behavior according to road, weather, and traffic conditions, and give yourself plenty of time to arrive at your destination
Exercising some common sense when driving and not engaging in aggressive behaviors can go a long way toward protecting yourself and your passengers from injuries.
There’s No Way to Avoid All Risks When Traveling
The next time you travel for business or pleasure, you can rest easy if you have a fear of flying. Commercial aviation’s safety track record means thousands of flights are completed yearly without any catastrophic incidents. If you must travel by car, be aware of the risks to your safety, and drive carefully and responsibly.
Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in Texas
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth or Dallas and need legal help, contact our car accident lawyers at Anderson Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. We proudly serve Tarrant County, Dallas County, and throughout Texas.
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office
1310 W El Paso St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 294-1900
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office (Secondary)
6618 Fossil Bluff Dr # 108, Fort Worth, TX 76137
(817) 631-4113
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office
408 W Eighth St Suite 202, Dallas, TX 75208
(214) 327-8000
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office (Secondary)
6301 Gaston Ave suite 610, Dallas, TX 75214
(469) 457-4711
