Transportation safety in the United States
Encyclopedia
Transportation safety has steadily improved in the United States
for many decades. Between 1920 and 2000, the rate of fatal automobile accidents per vehicle-mile
decreased by a factor of about 17. Except for a pause during the 1960s, progress in reducing fatal accidents has been steady. Safety for other types of U.S. passenger
transportation has also improved substantially, but long-term statistical data are not as readily available. While the fatality rate roughly leveled off from 2000 to 2005 at around 1.5 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled, it has resumed a downward trend to 1.27 in 2008.
Following an approach used by several writers, one can compare the likelihood
of a fatal accident while driving and while flying with a scheduled airline
. This is most meaningful for trips in which either mode of transportation is a reasonable alternative. For the U.S., a typical trip of this sort is from the Boston, MA, area to the Washington
, DC, area, about 6 hours door-to-door by air travel
and 7 hours door-to-door by automobile
. To compare typical risk
s, one can use the U.S. average fatal automobile
accident
rate of 1.5 per 100 million vehicle-mile
s for 2000 and the U.S. average fatal scheduled airline
accident
rate of 0.18 per million flight segments for 1995-2005:
Risk estimation By air By auto
Flight segments 1 0
Risk (millionths) 0.2 0
Miles driven 40 450
Risk (millionths) 0.6 6.8
Total risk (millionths) 0.8 6.8
The likelihood
of a fatal accident, estimated for this trip (assuming a total of 40 miles driven to and from the airports), is more than eight times greater when driving all of the way than when flying. As shown in this example, the largest part of the risk of flying is the risk incurred driving to and from airports (0.6 while driving to/from the airport vs. 0.2 for the flight itself).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for many decades. Between 1920 and 2000, the rate of fatal automobile accidents per vehicle-mile
Mile
A mile is a unit of length, most commonly 5,280 feet . The mile of 5,280 feet is sometimes called the statute mile or land mile to distinguish it from the nautical mile...
decreased by a factor of about 17. Except for a pause during the 1960s, progress in reducing fatal accidents has been steady. Safety for other types of U.S. passenger
Passenger
A passenger is a term broadly used to describe any person who travels in a vehicle, but bears little or no responsibility for the tasks required for that vehicle to arrive at its destination....
transportation has also improved substantially, but long-term statistical data are not as readily available. While the fatality rate roughly leveled off from 2000 to 2005 at around 1.5 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled, it has resumed a downward trend to 1.27 in 2008.
Following an approach used by several writers, one can compare the likelihood
Likelihood
Likelihood is a measure of how likely an event is, and can be expressed in terms of, for example, probability or odds in favor.-Likelihood function:...
of a fatal accident while driving and while flying with a scheduled airline
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
. This is most meaningful for trips in which either mode of transportation is a reasonable alternative. For the U.S., a typical trip of this sort is from the Boston, MA, area to the Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, DC, area, about 6 hours door-to-door by air travel
Air travel
Air travel is a form of travel in vehicles such as airplanes, helicopters, hot air balloons, blimps, gliders, hang gliding, parachuting or anything else that can sustain flight.-Domestic and international flights:...
and 7 hours door-to-door by automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
. To compare typical risk
Risk
Risk is the potential that a chosen action or activity will lead to a loss . The notion implies that a choice having an influence on the outcome exists . Potential losses themselves may also be called "risks"...
s, one can use the U.S. average fatal automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
accident
Accident
An accident or mishap is an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance, often with lack of intention or necessity. It implies a generally negative outcome which may have been avoided or prevented had circumstances leading up to the accident been recognized, and acted upon, prior to its...
rate of 1.5 per 100 million vehicle-mile
Mile
A mile is a unit of length, most commonly 5,280 feet . The mile of 5,280 feet is sometimes called the statute mile or land mile to distinguish it from the nautical mile...
s for 2000 and the U.S. average fatal scheduled airline
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
accident
Accident
An accident or mishap is an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance, often with lack of intention or necessity. It implies a generally negative outcome which may have been avoided or prevented had circumstances leading up to the accident been recognized, and acted upon, prior to its...
rate of 0.18 per million flight segments for 1995-2005:
Risk estimation By air By auto
Flight segments 1 0
Risk (millionths) 0.2 0
Miles driven 40 450
Risk (millionths) 0.6 6.8
Total risk (millionths) 0.8 6.8
The likelihood
Likelihood
Likelihood is a measure of how likely an event is, and can be expressed in terms of, for example, probability or odds in favor.-Likelihood function:...
of a fatal accident, estimated for this trip (assuming a total of 40 miles driven to and from the airports), is more than eight times greater when driving all of the way than when flying. As shown in this example, the largest part of the risk of flying is the risk incurred driving to and from airports (0.6 while driving to/from the airport vs. 0.2 for the flight itself).
See also
- Car accidentCar accidentA traffic collision, also known as a traffic accident, motor vehicle collision, motor vehicle accident, car accident, automobile accident, Road Traffic Collision or car crash, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction,...
- Road safety
- Air safetyAir safetyAir safety is a term encompassing the theory, investigation and categorization of flight failures, and the prevention of such failures through regulation, education and training. It can also be applied in the context of campaigns that inform the public as to the safety of air travel.-United...
- Risk analysisRisk analysis (engineering)Risk analysis is the science of risks and their probability and evaluation.Probabilistic risk assessment is one analysis strategy usually employed in science and engineering.-Risk analysis and the risk workshop:...