Anderson Injury Lawyers | November 11, 2025 | Personal Injury

What Is the Safest Way To Travel?

Every mode of transportation carries some level of risk. From train derailments to hard landings, each method—whether by car, plane, train, or bus—comes with its own set of dangers. Yet not all forms of travel are equally hazardous. 

By analyzing national transportation data, researchers have identified which options are statistically the safest and which pose the greatest risk to travelers.

Measuring the Safest Way To Travel

Determining the safest way to travel starts with clear, consistent data. According to the National Safety Council and the NHTSA, there were thousands of transportation-related fatalities in 2023, broken down as follows:

These figures show that nearly 95% of all transportation deaths occur on U.S. roads and highways. In contrast, air travel accounted for less than 1% of fatalities—making it statistically the safest mode of transportation overall.

Accounting for Usage: Passenger Miles

While total fatalities are useful, they don’t tell the whole story. People drive almost every day, but most only fly a few times a year. To adjust for this, the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) measures safety in passenger miles—the total number of miles traveled multiplied by the number of passengers aboard.

For example, an airplane flying 500 miles with 100 passengers generates 50,000 passenger miles. This measure helps compare safety rates across transportation types by accounting for how often and how far each mode is used.

According to BTS data, motor vehicles account for:

  • About 7 times more passenger miles than airplanes
  • 145 times more than public transit
  • 874 times more than intercity passenger rail

By comparing deaths per passenger mile, experts can better answer: “Per mile traveled, what is the safest way to travel?”

Comparing the Major Modes of Transportation

When it comes to safety, not all forms of travel are created equal. Each mode—whether by air, rail, road, or sea—operates under different conditions, safety standards, and risks. 

Air Travel

Despite public fear surrounding turbulence or mechanical issues, commercial aviation remains the safest mode of travel. In 2023, airplanes were responsible for only 327 fatalities, even though millions of flights occurred that year. Statistically, car crashes cause about 18 times more deaths per passenger mile than airplane crashes.

Strict maintenance standards, advanced technology, and rigorous pilot training all contribute to aviation’s remarkable safety record.

Rail Travel

Trains also perform well on safety metrics, especially for passengers. Although the NTSB reported 969 train-related deaths, nearly all were motorists or pedestrians struck at crossings—only five deaths involved actual rail passengers. 

When these numbers are isolated, car accidents caused roughly 8,180 times more fatalities than train accidents did. This makes intercity and commuter rail one of the safest ground transportation options available.

Automobile Travel

Cars remain the most common—and the most dangerous—form of travel. With 40,901 deaths in 2023, traffic accidents accounted for nearly all transportation-related fatalities nationwide. Factors like distracted driving, speeding, impairment, and congestion all elevate the risk.

Even with safety advancements such as airbags, driver-assistance systems, and improved road design, driving continues to pose the greatest threat to travelers in everyday life.

Maritime Travel

While far less common than other forms of transportation, water travel generally poses a relatively low overall risk to passengers. Most incidents occur in recreational settings rather than on commercial vessels. 

In 2023, the National Safety Council recorded 616 fatalities from recreational boating accidents, reflecting hazards such as severe weather, equipment failure, operator inexperience, and falling overboard. 

Traveling Safely in Fort Worth

Overall, air travel remains the safest way to travel, with rail and public transit also ranking high in safety. In contrast, automobiles account for nearly all transportation-related deaths each year, making everyday driving the most dangerous way to get from one place to another.

In Fort Worth and beyond, practicing defensive driving, avoiding distractions, and staying alert can significantly reduce risk. No matter how you travel, awareness and smart decision-making are the best ways to stay safe on the road—or in the air.

If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth, Dallas, or Austin and need legal help, contact our personal injury lawyers at Anderson Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. We proudly serve Tarrant County, Dallas County, and throughout Texas.

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