Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers | October 24, 2025 | Car Accidents
The fear of flying is among the most common phobias, affecting up to 40% of the nation’s population. By contrast, nearly 229 million people have driver’s licenses out of 263 million people eligible to drive. This means almost 87% of the Americans who are eligible have been granted the privilege to drive.
This difference raises the question: How safe is flying compared to riding in a vehicle?
The answer is nuanced, although the numbers generally establish that flying is much safer than driving or riding in a motor vehicle.
Aviation Safety
Aviation safety can be measured in several ways. Government data from 2023 shows that U.S. commercial airlines reported 31 incidents that year—26 involving serious injuries and none resulting in fatalities
Commercial carriers are vigorously regulated. Federal laws and regulations set high standards for inspection and maintenance. Moreover, these operators face enormous pressure from shareholders to avoid airplane crashes.
Consequently, commercial airlines usually have rigorous internal controls to ensure that their pilots, flight attendants, and technicians meet or exceed the federal requirements.
By contrast, general aviation encompasses all civil flights other than scheduled commercial operations.
This category includes:
- Pilot training airplanes and helicopters
- Private airplanes and helicopters
- Police helicopters
- News and traffic helicopters
- Cropdusters
- Firefighting airplanes and helicopters
- Air ambulances
- Civilian search and rescue airplanes and helicopters
General aviation does not include military flights, regardless of the purpose.
Regarding accident frequency, general aviation has a much higher risk profile than commercial air travel. In 2023, there were 1,482 general aviation incidents, including 1,190 non-fatal and 292 fatal accidents. These incidents involved mid-air collisions, hard landings, and crashes into terrain or water.
According to the National Safety Council, in a recent year, 304 people lost their lives in fatal general aviation accidents, including both pilots and passengers.
Car Accident Risks
In 2023, the most recent year for which data is available, there were 41,901 fatalities because of car accidents across the nation.
The fatalities can be broken down as follows:
- 24,238 passenger vehicle drivers and passengers killed in car accidents
- 7,314 pedestrians were killed in pedestrian accidents
- 6,335 motorcycle operators and passengers died in motorcycle accidents
- 1,155 cyclists killed in bicycle accidents
- 709 truck drivers killed in truck accidents
- 1,150 people were killed in other accidents, such as bus crashes
The federal government estimates that 6.14 million car accidents occurred across the U.S. in 2023. These crashes caused over 40,000 deaths and 2.44 million non-fatal injuries.
Comparing Airplane and Motor Vehicle Safety Records
When comparing air and road travel, the data clarifies one thing: flying is far safer than driving. According to an analysis by the National Safety Council, the lifetime odds of dying in a motor vehicle crash are 1 in 95, reflecting the risks millions of drivers face every day.
By contrast, fatal commercial airplane crashes are exceedingly rare. In fact, the odds of dying in a commercial aviation accident are so low they are nearly immeasurable—some analyses estimate them at 1 in 11 million per year.
This vast difference highlights the impact of strict aviation regulations, advanced technology, and rigorous training standards that make air travel one of the safest forms of transportation.
Meanwhile, the frequency of roadway collisions—over 6 million crashes and 40,000 fatalities annually—demonstrates the inherent dangers of driving, walking, or cycling on U.S. roads.
In short, statistically, while many fear flying, the greater risk lies on the road, not in the air.
Contact the Palm Beach Gardens Car Accident Attorneys at Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Flying is far safer than traveling by car. While most people drive every day without much thought, motor vehicle accidents remain a leading cause of serious injury and death in the United States.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. Our experienced attorneys are here to protect your rights and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
For more information, please contact the Stuart, Port St. Lucie, or Palm Beach Gardens personal injury law firm of Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.
We proudly serve Martin County, St. Lucie County, Palm Beach County, and its surrounding areas in Florida:
Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Stuart
73 SW Flagler Ave
Stuart, FL 34994
(772) 444-7000
Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Port St. Lucie
1100 SW St. Lucie West Blvd. Ste 202
Port St Lucie, FL 34986
(772) 247-3374
Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Palm Beach Gardens
300 Ave of the Champions Ste 170
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
(561) 944-4000
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