Numerous studies and statistics prove that those who are afraid of flying and claim that the plane is the most dangerous form of transport are mistaken. Engineers and designers of passenger airliners are constantly working to improve systems and aerodynamic properties.
This allows you to minimize the risk of getting caught. Compared to trains or cars, it is the best mode of transport in terms of accident rates. The debate about whether train or plane is safer is still ongoing, but the latter wins it.
Research on the safety of different modes of transport is regularly carried out to identify the overall picture and global trends.
In the field of civil aviation they are carried out ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization). She established that There is only 1 accident per 1 million flights. Neither railway nor road transport has such data.
Why do many passengers' knees tremble when they board an airplane? Any plane crash is actively covered by the media. Therefore, the reputation of aircraft is not the best.
Numerous studies prove the leadership of the airplane as the safest mode of transport.
The probability that you will be in a plane crash is approximately 1 in 8,000,000. Even if you each fly the same flight, you will need about 21,000 years old to get into a disaster.
If we talk about statistics about whether a train or a plane is safer, then the death rate due to a train accident is 0.9 passengers per 100 million km. Machines have an even higher mortality threshold - 1.6 people die per 160 million km. Every year 1.2 million people dying on roads all over the world.
Plane crash survivor data
Many sources claim that it is almost impossible to survive a plane crash. This is also not entirely true. It’s just that the media covers precisely those disasters where a large number of people died, and not those where many passengers survived.
In the USA they analyzed 538 disasters. They died in them only 5% people of the total number of passengers flying.
According to the same source Of the 53,487 passengers involved in the accident, 51,207 survived.
After detailed research 26 cases, when the plane was destroyed upon impact with the ground or a fire occurred on board, it was concluded: 50% of all passengers survived.
Even in the event of a plane crash, passengers have every chance of surviving.
If pilots risk performing the so-called splashdown (landing an aircraft on water), then the chances of passengers surviving increase by as much as 50%. When the TU-124 landed on the Neva in the USSR, none of those on board died. The same thing happened during the Hudson landing in 2009.
Studying the causes of accidents, experts came to the conclusion that a fatal disaster for all passengers occurs due to several factors coming together. This can be due to both technical reasons and the fault of people.
A few more facts in favor of aircraft safety
In case all the above facts have not yet given you an answer to the question: “Why is an airplane considered the safest mode of transport?”, then here are a couple more arguments that prove this point of view.
For every 100 million miles the average passenger flies, there are 0.0003 casualties. When compared with the same buses, this figure is almost 17 times higher!
For those who think private flights are better, there is data to prove otherwise. Chances of getting into an accident on a private jet 1 in 7229.
Of those committed in 2012 In 26,600,000 flights, only 6 accidents occurred.
An airplane is the safest form of transport, and statistics prove it. Therefore, you can safely board a passenger airliner and enjoy a relaxing flight.
Vehicles allow us to move around the world quickly and comfortably, but at what cost? Millions of people die in transport every year.
10. Moped and motorcycle
Mopeds and motorcycles rightfully occupy the tenth position in our ranking of the safest modes of transport. For many years in a row, such transport has been considered the most dangerous. Of the total traffic, motorcycles make up only 1%, while 20% of deaths on the roads occur due to this type of transport.
In order to survive, you should remember that you cannot reach a reckless speed of more than 70 km/h. Desperate bravado is not only inappropriate, it can also cost the driver his life. And, if he took a passenger with him... According to statistics, 125 deaths occur for every 1.5 billion km. The mortality rate of drivers of ordinary cars is 28 times less than the mortality rate of motorcycle drivers. These are the modern facts.
From year to year, a bicycle is considered one of the most dangerous types of transport, according to official statistics. This year was no exception, unfortunately. Most often, accidents involving bicycles occur when they collide with cars.
The number of such accidents on the roads is constantly growing. Therefore, cyclists should be as careful as possible. Since teenagers most often die in such accidents, all parents should take this point into account. At 1.5 billion km. According to statistics, there are 35 deaths.
8. Subway
In case of accidents, this type of transport destroys the lives of many people at once. And emergencies in the metro are especially dangerous for citizens. If we talk about Russia, most often the victims are passengers of the Moscow metro.
7. Sea transport
Ferries are not as safe as water transport enthusiasts would like. According to current year statistics, by 1.5 billion km. accounts for 20 deaths. In particular, it should be noted that not every death occurs as a result of a crash.
There have been cases of passengers falling overboard. Water transport is also unsafe!
6. Spaceship
Only 18 of the spacecraft that have been sent into limitless space since the very first flight in 1961 have failed to return. And this is despite an impressive number of vehicles of this type sent into space.
There were 530 ships in total. It is worth considering that people did not die in space itself. Tragedies happened during takeoff or during landing. According to statistics, by 1.5 billion km. accounts for 7 human deaths.
5. Minibus
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for people to die when traveling on this type of transport, often due to the low qualifications of the drivers.
4. Car
Cars used to be considered an incredibly dangerous type of transport. So, how did a car turn out to be one of the safest types of transport in statistics? Everything is very simple.
Cars have been significantly improved in recent years. Thus, the number of accidents has decreased significantly. New statistics show that 1.5 billion km. There are four deaths per car. However, this does not mean that you can safely forget about safety measures or become fans of crazy driving.
3. Bus
For 1 billion km. accounts for 0.5 deaths according to official statistics. This applies to ordinary buses. Therefore, in the ranking of the safest modes of transport, buses took an honorable 3rd place.
In Europe, this type of public transport is among the safest. Things are worse in Egypt, as well as in the Russian Federation. But still, buses are deservedly in third position in the ranking.
However, we should not forget about the terrible incidents associated with this type of transport. It’s worth at least remembering how a bus in the capital was rammed by a truck. And this is not an isolated case!
2. Airplane
But, according to statistics, an airplane cannot be considered one of the safest modes of transport. However, 0.5 deaths occur per 1.5 billion km, if we also take into account small aircraft with helicopters. Commercial ships will always be more dangerous than conventional light aircraft.
However, we should not forget that the worst thing in the case of plane crashes is the fact that almost none of the huge number of passengers manages to escape. And even the crew of an aircraft in plane crashes is often no luckier. It is known that such incidents can never be an accident.
When a plane crash occurs, a combination of certain factors are to blame. However, airplanes are always considered one of the safest types of transport. And statistics confirm this every year. But the most surprising thing is that people are often much more afraid of flying on airplanes than riding motorcycles.
Trains, according to statistics, are considered the safest transport in the world and are in first place on our list. This is especially true for American and European trains; only 0.2 deaths occur per 1.5 billion km. to the share of trains.
If we take only the Russian Federation, the mortality rate in railway transport is 0.7 per 1.5 billion km, which is also not very much.
Calculate, what type of transport is the safest, not so simple. To build a beautiful and visual graph, at least two indicators are required - the number of dead or injured, as well as the number of people who use this type of transport. For air, rail and water transport, this data is not difficult to find, because thanks to tickets, every person is taken into account. But there are problems with automobile transport. It is not possible to track the movements of the average Russian from work, to work and to the store - no one registers at the doorstep of their home.
Our transport safety rating according to statistics for 2018 was compiled using various sources - from data from the National Union of Insurers, which keeps statistics of registered insurance cases from 2012 to the present, to data on transport accidents on the Rosstat website.
> 200 deaths per 1.6 billion km
Although the number of accidents involving motorcyclists has decreased by more than 70% since 2005, the motorcycle remains one of the most dangerous forms of transport. According to statistics, it turns out that every 1.6 billion km of travel is paid for with the lives of more than two hundred drivers and their passengers.
A motorcycle, like another two-wheeled vehicle - a bicycle - is characterized by increased vulnerability, so accidents involving motorcyclists are highly likely to end sadly. The reason is non-compliance with traffic rules, and, surprisingly, the fundamental refusal of some drivers to use a helmet.
5.75 people per 1.6 billion km
Personal cars are in second place in terms of the number of road accidents. In just 1.6 billion km of travel, at least 5.75 people die.
The reasons include the reluctance of drivers to comply with traffic rules, the condition of the road surface, the increased wear and tear of the vehicle fleet due to the crisis and the deterioration of the purchasing power of the population. And also (due to the increase in the average age of life) and the aging of drivers. All these factors together serve as a guarantee that road transport in Russia will not be safe for a long time.
9.4 deaths per 1 million passengers
Among air transport, the greatest danger to human life is not international transportation, but intercity transportation. Especially if a person in a helicopter is forced to go to those lands where even the notorious Makar prefers not to send his calves. Perhaps this is what explains such a high number of casualties among helicopter passengers. For every 1 million people, at least 9.4 are injured. You will have to fall from a great height, and, with a high degree of probability, the injuries will be incompatible with life.
5 deaths per 1.5 billion km
Minibus taxis cannot be called the safest type of transport in Russia. According to statistics, every 1.5 billion km of route traveled by a minibus is paid for by five human lives. Among the reasons can be cited both the work of drivers for wear and tear, as well as design flaws of minibuses, the condition of the roads, unwillingness to comply with traffic rules and drunk driving.
2.84 victims per 1 million transported
In 2018, there were several major accidents involving intercity buses, including a tragic incident in the Voronezh region, when two buses collided, five people died and 17 were injured. In general, according to statistics, intercity and international buses are not safe - for every million passengers transported there are accidents At least 2.84 are injured or killed. In total, in 2018, travel on intercity buses caused the death of more than 600 passengers, and more than 13 thousand people were injured.
2.3 accidents per 1 million passengers
This category includes both international ships and domestic river carriers. In total, in 2018, 62 incidents occurred during sea and river travel, which ended tragically for five people. In general, according to NSS statistics, for every million passengers transported, there are 2.3 accidents.
Passengers on sea and river vessels are threatened not only by the elements of water, but also by fire. One of the common causes of transport accidents is a sudden fire on board a ship, usually caused by faulty electrical wiring. This is not surprising, given that Russia's domestic fleet is in poor condition, with almost a third of the vessels celebrating 40 years of service.
Chance of dying: 1:11,000,000
The safest transport in the world, however, in Russia it is not possible to obtain accurate statistics on the number of accidents per number of passengers. Data from the National Society of Insurers, which we relied on when assessing the danger of other modes of transport, are not available for them. The reason is the peculiarities of the insurance system in Russia; Most air transport companies transport their passengers not only within the country, but also abroad. Therefore, they use international insurance policies.
This is why an airplane is the safest mode of transport: according to statistics, The chances of dying in an accident on board an airplane are 1 in 11 million. For comparison, the chances of being struck by lightning while walking in a thunderstorm are 16 times higher!
0.17 accidents per 1 million passengers
This category includes both intercity and international trains, as well as regular commuter trains. In general, for 2018 the statistics for Russian Railways look excellent - for almost the entire year, from January to November, only seven incidents were recorded. Unfortunately, there were some deaths - one person died. In general, there are no more than 0.17 accidents per 1 million passengers.
More and more people prefer to use one of the safest modes of transport, and this cannot be explained by price alone. Indeed, for some destinations the cost of plane and train tickets is almost equal. According to the Russian Railways website, in 2018, long-distance trains carried almost 8% more passengers than last year. And the increase in the number of passengers on electric trains amounted to almost 3%.
0.09 cases per million transported
The trolleybus is in second place in terms of safety among modes of transport in Russia. According to NSS statistics, for every million passengers transported there are only 0.09 accidents. Most of them are banal “stumbled and fell.”
The reasons for the low trauma rate of a trolleybus are very simple - its volume and weight, as well as its low speed. In a collision, for example, with a passenger car, the car will suffer much worse. And the trolleybus passengers will get away with minor bruises.
0.04 victims out of 1,000,000 people
The safest transport according to statistics for 2018 in terms of the ratio of the number of accidents to the number of passengers. In total, out of one million people arriving from point A to point B, no more than 0.04 people are injured. In addition to safety, the tram has many advantages:
- it moves more smoothly than a car or even a trolleybus;
- less noisy;
- completely autonomous from traffic jams (unless, of course, motorists try to drive along the tracks);
- Of all urban transport, it causes the least harm to the environment.
Unfortunately, trams are gradually disappearing from small towns in Russia. The reason is the limited local budget, which simply cannot support a separate line. In just the past twenty years, the number of trams has decreased by more than 35%. Does this mean that the safest form of transport will gradually disappear from the urban landscape?
Given the large number of different vehicles, many specialists and experts, of course, want to know which ones are the safest. Statistics show that the safest mode of transport is an airplane.
Experts divide transport into 2 groups:
- By service sector:
- Public options
- Special forces
- Private
- By environment of use:
- Ground - this includes wheeled and rail versions
- Underground - metro
- Air
- Space
- Water and underwater
- Pipeline
Passengers boarding an airplane often shudder at the thought of taking off and landing. However, official statistics are clear - airliners are quite safe from the point of view of movement.
The calculations are based on the number of victims per 100 million miles. According to the results of such calculations, the mortality rate in plane crashes is 0.6 people. You can die in a plane crash in 1 case in 8 million. If compared with other options traditionally considered safer, then this figure will turn out to be completely ridiculous. Thus, in accidents with mopeds and motorcycles, the statistics is 125 deaths per 1.5 billion km. Cyclists die on the roads in considerable numbers - 35 deaths per 1.5 billion km of travel. Even in the metro, more people die than in air transport - 25 cases per 1.5 billion km.
What ensures the safety of the airliner?
The reliability of aircraft, as experts note, is ensured by a certain number of factors. First of all, each aircraft undergoes a whole range of serious tests before flying. Moreover, it is inspected by both technicians and the captain of the ship, who must be personally confident in the excellent condition of the airliner he is accepting for flight.
Secondly, this is the work of security systems. Today, advanced systems are installed on airplanes, and even in quantities of several that can duplicate each other. Accordingly, if something happens to one of them, the other will be able to duplicate it. The plane can fly and land even with one faulty engine.
Thirdly, landing tactics change regularly. Previously, pilots practiced landing the plane softly, but now they advise doing it roughly, which improves the grip of the landing gear on the runway.
Is it possible to survive a plane crash?
Many people are afraid of the inability to survive a plane crash. But this is also a myth. Yes, in many cases the plane is destroyed. But the cases when passengers remained alive are quite numerous. This is due to the fact that all aircraft are designed by people who are well versed in aerodynamics and gravity. And it’s not so easy for an airplane to fall from a height of 10,000 km.
In the USA, for example, 500 aviation incidents occurred in 20 years. The number of deaths in these is about 5% of the total number of passengers on board the liner. Even in situations like these, when planes crash and break in half, passengers have a chance of surviving.
Choosing a safe place on the plane
Against the backdrop of determining the safety of a particular vehicle, many are, of course, interested in whether it is possible to find safe seats on board the aircraft. Back in 2007, statistics were published that clearly identified the quietest seats on the plane.
To compile statistics, the researchers took data published by the National Security Council of America over 30 years. They took as a basis the dependence of the number of victims on the place where the passengers were located. It turned out that 70% of the crash survivors were located in the section behind the edge of the aircraft's wing. Also, those sitting above the wing have a chance to survive in half the cases.
The part of the plane closer to the tail is in a more advantageous position due to the fact that when it falls, the plane mainly falls with its nose. This means that those sitting behind have a greater chance of salvation.
Statistics of the safest planes
- Airbus A340 - a total of 340 of these models were produced, which totaled 13.5 million flight hours, 5 accidents were recorded in which there were no casualties
- Airbus A330 - about 600 copies produced. The planes flew 14 million flight hours, and during this time only 1 accident occurred. A total of 8 examples were lost, killing 346 people.
- Boeing 747 - in aircraft of this brand there was 1 accident per 17.5 million flights. There are 941 vessels in operation. Over the years of use of such liners, 941 ships were lost, 51 were lost due to accidents in which 3,732 people died
- Boeing 737 – 3 tragedies have occurred since 1997
The safest aircraft at the moment is considered to be the Boeing 777. There are 748 copies in the world. Over the years, this model has flown 20 million hours. During this time, 3 people died in two incidents. Only one ship was lost during this time.
So you shouldn’t be afraid of airplanes because of the high accident rate. Moreover, the crew also undergoes special training, has the necessary skills and is not very eager to die. In addition, an airplane is an opportunity to get to your destination quickly and completely safely.
An upcoming trip to another city or a trip to the sea makes people think about what type of transport to prefer. And here some will choose the train, believing that it is safer, while others will fly by plane, spending less time traveling. What type of transport is actually considered the safest?
Public opinion
Opinion polls conducted over the past few years tend to show the same results. Of all modes of transport, passengers consider the train to be the safest.
Airplanes are among the most dangerous. Opinions regarding car travel are divided approximately equally. Regarding maritime transport, the public tends to consider it more of a safe method of transportation. But this is only the opinion of passengers who are unlikely to study statistical data on accidents, disasters and deaths associated with them.
What do the statistics say?
If people put airplanes in first place as the most dangerous way to travel, then statistics say quite the opposite. Statistical data is compiled in such a way that the basis is taken as mortality (number of people killed) per 160,000,000 km of distance traveled. So during flights this parameter is only 0.6-0.7 people. Railway transport is given second place in terms of safety - the death rate per 160,000,000 km of track is 0.9 people. The number of deaths in road accidents is 1.6 people. Therefore, we can conclude that the airplane is the safest mode of transport, and road transport is recognized as the most dangerous.
If you still doubt that flying is less dangerous than driving a car, then here are some more facts. In 2014, there were several plane crashes in the world that claimed 884 human lives. And in our country alone, in the first six months of 2014, more than 10,000 people died in car accidents. So which transport will be safer? The answer is still obvious. Therefore, before a trip, you should weigh the pros and cons, giving preference to one or another type of transport. And to get rid of the fear of flying (if anyone has any), here are some aviation facts.
1) An aircraft lands every three seconds around the world.
2) Donkeys kill more people than plane crashes.
3) If the chance of a daily disaster is at least 0.01 percent, then at least 13 planes should crash per day.
4) A plane crash cannot be an accident - it is always a combination of certain factors.
5) Before each flight, the aircraft undergoes a strict inspection and complex technical condition check.
6) Over 80 percent of people on our planet are afraid to fly on airplanes, and 5 percent categorically refuse to do so, preferring trains or ships.
7) A plane cannot fall from a height of 10,000 km, as many fear. There is a lot of pressure under the wings of an airplane, so it floats in the air in the same way as a car on asphalt.
8) Russian pilots do not drink at the controls - this is an invention of those people who are very afraid of flying.
Reading these facts may help reduce aerophobia. However, they are unlikely to be able to help those five percent of people who do not want to board the plane at all under any pretext.
