4 ms·

> What's the back of the envelope on whether the 737 Max is more dangerous than driving? Driving is an absurdly dangerous mode of transportation, so it’s proba

• jessriedel 3y ago
  It's the one most Americans use everyday, so it tells us about the risks that most people find accessible for the benefit they get.
  • knowledge-clay 3y ago
    Perhaps on an individual level, but on a policy level, it makes sense that the safety standards for flying are higher for flying than for driving.
    • jessriedel 3y ago
      I sort of agree. There is some cost-safety trade-off curve, and it's almost certainly true that you can get more safety for less cost/hassle on airplanes (or any large-group travel) than private cars. So in that sense, yes, the optimal amount of safety will be higher for planes. However, I think we should still respect individual preferences for safety in the sense that public transit should try and make the trade-offs individuals would make according to their values. In practice that means trying to estimate the value individuals put on safety through their revealed preferences, with cars being a key example. Although there are some choices the FAA makes here that a smart, on some other choices I think they impose hassles on passengers that aren't remotely justified by the safety benefit, e.g., mandatory seat belt use.