As a transportation safety expert with extensive experience in analyzing and comparing the safety records of various modes of transportation, I can provide a comprehensive perspective on the relative safety of planes and cars. When examining the safety of any mode of transportation, it's crucial to consider a range of factors, including the number of fatalities, the frequency of accidents, the inherent risks associated with each mode, and the statistical likelihood of an accident occurring.

Safety Statistics and Analysis:
The statistics provided by the United States government indeed suggest that, on average, flying is statistically safer than driving. The figures mentioned—1.13 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled for cars and nearly 11 people per 100,000 U.S. residents—highlight the disparity in risk between the two modes of transportation. However, it's important to note that these statistics are not absolute measures of safety but rather comparative indicators that can be influenced by various factors.

Factors Influencing Safety:

1. Risk Per Distance Traveled: Air travel is generally considered safer when looking at the risk per distance traveled. The vast majority of car trips are for shorter distances, where the risk of a fatal accident is lower, while planes cover much greater distances, which can skew the comparison.


2. Frequency of Travel: Most people use cars more frequently than they fly. The more often you engage in an activity, the higher the chance of encountering an accident.


3. Control and Mitigation: Car drivers have a certain level of control over their safety, such as the choice to wear a seatbelt, to avoid driving under the influence, and to follow traffic laws. In contrast, passengers on a plane have little to no control over the flight's safety.


4. Emergency Response: In the event of an accident, car occupants have a better chance of immediate emergency response compared to plane passengers, who are isolated in the air and must rely on the crew and the plane's safety features.


5. Technological Advances: Aviation has made significant strides in safety technology, including sophisticated navigation systems, autopilot, and rigorous maintenance protocols. Cars also have advanced safety features, but the ubiquity of car use means that human error remains a significant factor in accidents.


6. Psychological Perception: People often perceive flying as riskier due to the high-profile nature of plane crashes and the lack of control passengers feel. This perception does not always align with statistical reality.

Conclusion:
While the statistics indicate that, on a per-mile basis, flying is safer than driving, it's essential to consider the context and the factors that contribute to these numbers. The safety of any mode of transportation is multifaceted and influenced by a combination of human behavior, technology, and external conditions.

Translation:
作为一名拥有广泛经验的交通安全专家，我能够对飞机和汽车的相对安全性提供一个全面的视角。在检查任何交通方式的安全性时，考虑一系列因素至关重要，包括死亡人数、事故频率、每种模式固有的风险，以及事故发生的统计概率。

由美国政府提供的统计数据确实表明，平均而言，飞行在统计上比开车更安全。提到的数字——每1亿车辆行驶里程中有1.13人死亡，以及每10万美国居民中有近11人——突出了两种交通方式之间的风险差异。然而，需要注意的是，这些统计数据并不是安全性的绝对度量，而是可以受到各种因素影响的比较指标。


1. 每行驶距离的风险： 当考虑到每行驶距离的风险时，航空旅行通常被认为更安全。绝大多数的汽车旅行是短途的，发生致命事故的风险较低，而飞机覆盖的距离要大得多，这可能会扭曲比较。


2. 旅行频率： 大多数人使用汽车的频率比飞行要高。你参与一项活动的频率越高，遇到事故的机会就越大。


3. 控制和缓解： 汽车驾驶员可以对他们的安全有一定程度的控制，例如选择系安全带、避免酒后驾车和遵守交通法规。相比之下，飞机上的乘客对飞行安全几乎没有或没有控制权。


4. 紧急响应： 在发生事故的情况下，与飞机乘客相比，汽车乘客有更大的机会获得立即的紧急响应，飞机乘客被隔离在空中，必须依靠机组人员和飞机的安全特性。


5. 技术进步： 航空业在安全技术方面取得了显著进步，包括复杂的导航系统、自动驾驶和严格的维护协议。汽车也拥有先进的安全特性，但汽车使用的普遍性意味着人为错误仍然是事故的一个重要因素。


6. 心理感知： 人们常常因为飞机坠毁的高知名度和乘客感到的控制缺失而认为飞行更危险。这种感知并不总是与统计现实相符。

结论：
尽管统计数据表明，就每英里而言，飞行比开车更安全，但必须考虑这些数字背后的上下文和促成这些数字的因素。任何交通方式的安全性都是多方面的，受到人类行为、技术和外部条件的组合影响。

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But the truth is, according to statistics from the United States government, flying on a plane on average is overwhelmingly safer than driving a car. ... That comes out to be 1.13 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, and nearly 11 people for every 100,000 U.S. residents.Jul 20, 2017read more >>