Driving vs. Flying By the Numbers The overall fatality risk is 0.23% — you would need to fly every day for more than 10,000 years to be in a fatal plane crash. On the other hand, the chances of dying in a car collision are about 1 in 101, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Statistically, flying is exponentially safer than driving when measured by almost every metric of risk. According to data from the National Safety Council and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the odds of dying in a motor vehicle accident are approximately 1 in 93 over a lifetime, whereas the odds of dying in a commercial aviation accident are about 1 in 11 million. Commercial aviation is subject to far more rigorous regulation, maintenance, and training standards than personal driving. Pilots undergo hundreds of hours of simulation and testing, and aircraft are equipped with redundant systems to handle mechanical failures. In contrast, driving involves millions of individuals with varying skill levels, unpredictable road conditions, and frequent human errors such as distraction or intoxication. While a single plane crash is a major news event due to the high casualty count in one instance, thousands of people die daily in isolated car accidents that receive little attention. Essentially, you are more likely to be struck by lightning twice than to be involved in a fatal commercial plane crash, making the journey to the airport the most dangerous part of any flight.