How to survive a plane crash

How to survive a plane crash: Take the train

Air Travel: Hands down, the absolutely safest method of travel that mankind has ever invented. That includes walking. By far.

I am really getting tired of the negative comments on the Globe lately. These two idiotic posts are typical examples of what I've noticed. Everyone is just trying to sound smart, meanwhile they really end looking like jerks.

The information presented here offers some important tips to consider, although I sincerely hope neither I, nor anyone I love will ever have to use any of them, Perhaps they could make a difference between life and death - even for idiot commentators such as Rob and MPS.

Wow, chocgirl-why all the anger? Have you had a bad day? All mps wrote was a statistical fact...hardly seems worthy of an "idiot commentator" blast!
People-we have to start treating each other better out there...life is too short to be that upset about stuff like this...really. I mean, you could get in a walking accident and die tomorrow, girl!

I'm really getting tired of the idiotic comments about idiotic comments on the Globe lately. Chocgirl's post is a typical example of what I've noticed. Everyone is just trying to sound smart, meanwhile they really end looking like jerks.

It's interesting that the instructions omit one of the important things about the Hudson River crash - the passengers were smart enough NOT to open the rear exits and sink the plane!

"....the passengers were smart enough NOT to open the rear exits and sink the plane! "

By the reports I've read, one of the wasn't and pushed a stewardess aside to open a rear exit. That did let in a substantial quantity of water, but between closing the door and getting the *&^% out nobody drowned.

Rant: Maybe a photo of whoever opened that door should be run nationally as an inducement for people not to be idiots. If the *pilots* were able to make quick decisions and excecute critical tasks without panic I'd think someone sitting in a chair should be able to follow the same directions they've seen every time they got on a plane. Some people should not be allowed on airplanes, at least not on the same plane as me! /rant off ;-)

@mps: Actually, you are statistically wrong. If you look at numbers, i.e., number of accidents and deaths, compared with each other then fine, your broad and general statement works. BUT, if you then take the numbers of accidents and deaths for driving and general aviation, compare them to the miles traveled (or hours traveled) to create a risk factor per mile of travel (per hour of travel) then flying is no safer. I really do not like broad generalizations and since you started off my day by making one, I felt the need to point out the fallacy of your statement.

Chocgirl, chill out! MPS's comment in no way amounted to an "idiotic post." Yikes, you need to go for a walk outside or something (but don't hurt yourself).

rrrrooop - You know, since you didn't actually show your specific calculations, all you did was make another braod generalization.

Airline travel is safe, very safe. Even safer than walking (I got hit trying to cross mass ave, in a crosswalk, with the light). Small, private planes are significantly less safe.

Airline travel is also energy efficient. I can't cite the figures right now, but I did actually calculate the fuel mileage of a 747 versus that of a mid-sized automobile, and the 747 comes ahead, if it is mostly full (and they generally are), and there's a single person in the car. However, if the car has two or more people, it is more efficient. But, like most statistics, it doesn't tell the whole story and should be taken with a grain of salt. The most important take-away from this is that airline travel is safe, and not horribly inefficient. And no, I have no connection to the aircraft or travel industry whatsoever.