The answer to whether it's safer to travel by plane or train depends on how you measure safety.
Comparing Safety Metrics
It's important to consider different metrics when evaluating the safety of air and rail travel.
| Metric | Plane Safety | Train Safety |
|---|---|---|
| Fatalities per billion miles | Significantly safer | Less safe |
| Fatalities per trip | Less safe | Almost six times safer |
-
Fatalities per Billion Miles: According to the reference "Train vs.", airplanes are significantly safer when measured by fatalities per billion miles traveled. This means that for each mile traveled, your risk of being involved in a fatal accident is lower in a plane compared to a train.
-
Fatalities per Trip: Conversely, when you look at fatalities per trip, trains are almost six times safer. This indicates that for each journey taken, you're far less likely to encounter a fatal accident on a train than on a plane.
Factors Influencing Safety Perceptions
The contrasting findings highlight the fact that safety is not absolute and is instead dependent on the chosen metric.
- Longer flights result in more miles traveled.
- Multiple train journeys in a given day may not cover as many miles.
Conclusion
Both planes and trains are exceptionally safe forms of transport compared to driving in cars or buses. The "safer" option depends on the chosen method of measurement.
