Exploring the risks of different modes of transportation

I use many different modes of transportation in my day-to-day life, but rarely do I think about the risk of injury or death that I am taking when I use them. I consider myself to be pretty good at being aware of possible dangerous scenarios and taking preemptive steps to avoid them, especially when I am in control, such as when riding my bike and driving a car, but there are times where accidents cannot be foreseen or avoided. Statistically, every time you get in your car, on your bike or motorcycle, and in a bus, train, or plane, depending on the circumstances, there is a level of risk of death or injury that you are taking. I would like to know more about these statistics and risks, in order to help me make more informed transportation decisions.

What are the most dangerous modes of transportation?

In the European Union

According to the Transport Safety Performance in the EU a Statistical Overview, of 2003 [1], in terms of risk of death, the top three riskiest modes of transportation, in deaths per 100 million person travel hours, are by motorcycle and moped (440), by bicycle (75), and then by foot and car (passenger cars, light trucks, vans, etc.) (25).

Rail and air travel are the safest modes per distance traveled, followed by bus. The passengers of trains, bus/coach and planes within the EU have the lowest fatality risk per passenger kilometer. For the average passenger trip in the EU, bus travel has a 10 times lower fatality risk than car travel and air travel within the EU has for the average flight distance about the same fatality risk per passenger kilometer as train travel and both are half as risky as travel by coach. The risks associated with ferry travel fluctuate, but the expected fatality risk is 4 to 8 times that of train travel. [1]

In North America

In Canada, according to the Government of Canada, using data between 1990 and 2015 [2], in terms of risk of death, the riskiest modes of transportation, in deaths per year averaged over the given time frame, are by car (passenger cars, light trucks, vans, etc.) (1,938), by foot (371), and then by water transport (passenger vessels, recreational boats, commercial passenger vessels, commercial freight vessels) (188) and by motorcycle (186).

In the United States of America, according to the United States Department of Transportation, using data between 1990 and 2020 [3], in terms of risk of death, the riskiest modes of transportation, in deaths per year averaged over the given time frame, are by passenger car (10,381), by light truck (5,195), and by foot (3,834).

For the majority of Americans, driving or being a passenger in a motor vehicle is the most dangerous daily activity he or she will be undertaking. According to the Centers for Disease Control, accidents (unintentional injuries) are the 5th leading cause of death in the United States. [4]

In general

Therefore, in general in the European Union and North America, based on the data found, the most dangerous modes of transportation are traveling by car, motorcycle, foot, and bicycle. Also, I guess when you are in Canada be careful when on the water. When traveling by air, bus, rail, and ferry, in these regions, statistically you are pretty safe.

Obviously this is a general statement and the data behind it is also very general, which makes it difficult to interpret. There will be areas of each region, where many more incidents happen compared to others. For example, in higher population density areas like cities, compared to out in the countryside. The quality of infrastructure for each mode of transportation in different areas likely will also make a difference in how many incidents occur there, and so on.

Currently, my main mode of transportation is by bicycle. What can I do to reduce my risk of death and injury?

I found two interesting resources with statistics about bicycle deaths and injuries for the United States of America (by the U.S. Centers for Disease [5]) and for the European Union (by the European Commission [6]). From them I learned that, in both regions; thousands of people die or are injured in bicycle accidents every year, most injuries and fatalities occur in urban areas and mostly on stretches of road where higher speeds might occur, older adults (in the U.S. over 55, and in the EU over 65) have the highest death rates, and males have a higher death and injury rate than females.

In the publication by the U.S. Centers for Disease [5], they mention that roadway engineering measures and wearing a helmet are effective intervention measures to reduce injuries and fatalities for bicyclists. They also mention that wearing reflective clothing and using bike lights are promising intervention measures.

Below is a list of all of the other things that I could think of, that I do and could do, to reduce my risk of death or injury while on my bicycle.

• Don't ride distracted (no headphones or using your phone while riding)
• Use a bell (warn people you are coming up on them, at blind corners, etc.)
• Ride healthy (not drunk, not tired, not sick, etc.)
• Don’t take your hands off of the handle bars (things happen really fast)
• Avoid cars (high traffic areas, higher speed roads, etc.) as much as possible, even if it means taking a longer route.
• Follow the rules of the road, but never assume that cars see you, even if they look in your direction (slow down, always have a bailout plan in sight, etc.)
• Chill out (you are not in a race to get to where you are going)
• Avoid riding all together if conditions are icy
• Take care of your bikes, but be especially picky about always having well working brakes (as annoying as it may be to keep them that way)
• Be hyper aware of your surroundings, possible threats, and other riders at all times
• If you have a bike trailer, be very aware that you will not be able to stop as fast as without one.
• Carry a small first aid kit

If bicycling is one of your main modes of transportation, take some time to think about additional safety measures you can take, which apply to your specific route and situation. You will be happy that you did.

Traveling by bus and train comes with a relatively low risk of death and injury. Can I reduce it even more?

When you are riding the bus and train, your fate is more or less out of your hands. With that in mind, in my opinion, you may be able to slightly reduce your risk of injury and death, in the event of a crash, by wearing a seatbelt (if available), and choosing your seat strategically.

In a bus, for example, if you choose an aisle seat in the middle of the bus (between the front to back of the vehicle) you will be as far away from the windows as you could be, and would be taking the best compromise between being in the best spot in the event of a head-on collision and collision from the rear.

On a train, you could choose a seat at the very back of the train, which would be in your favor in the event of a head-on collision, however other types of collisions are also possible, including from the rear. With that in mind, I would also look for a seat in the middle of the train, so that it is at least the best compromise between a head-on collision and collision from the rear.

In both cases, think of what would roughly happen if you were in a collision from all angles (head-on, from the rear, and from the sides), and if you can make any easy adjustments with your seating based on that. You may be glad you did in the unlikely event that a collision does really happen.

• If we were in an accident from this angle, in which direction would I and everyone else around me be thrown in?
• What would be coming my way?
• What would I collide with?

Is there anything I can do to reduce my risk of death and injury when flying commercially?

Although, statistically, in the 21st century you are pretty safe when traveling in commercial aviation [7] [8], before you book a flight, do some research. Research the safety records and standards of the aircraft model, manufacture, and airline that you would be flying with. Other than that, and knowing the safety procedures and where the exits are on the aircraft, your fate is out of your hands when flying. At the very high speeds at which aircraft travel, a seat choice in a specific area of the plane probably won’t bring you any benefi in the event of a crash.

I do drive a car now and then. What can I do to reduce my risk of death and injury while driving?

Driving a car, motorcycle, and moped are dangerous activities that many people around the world undertake everyday.

Every year the lives of approximately 1.19 million people are cut short as a result of a road traffic crash. Between 20 and 50 million more people suffer non-fatal injuries, with many incurring a disability [9].

It is an activity that is so integrated in and is such an important part of people’s day-to-day life, that the risks involved in its undertaking are often forgotten, overlooked, or disregarded. Other than doing many of the obvious things, much like the ones I have listed to hopefully reduce injury and death while riding a bicycle, probably the best preventative measure of death and injury while driving, is to avoid it all together, where possible. If it is possible to take a statistically safer alternative mode of transportation, compared to driving, in order to get to where you are going, take it.

What am I going to be taking away from all of this?

Personally, what I will be taking away from all of this, is to make an effort to take the safest mode of transportation available to me, where possible. If I have to travel by foot, bicycle, or car, I will do my best to be smart about it and reduce my risk of death and injury as much as I possibly can. I will also be keeping in mind the risks that I am taking when traveling somewhere and weighing them against the need to get where I am going in that scenario.

These are just my thoughts on the matter. Don't be afraid to look into the matter for yourself, have your own thoughts, and establish your own stance and opinions. Be the curious sheep of the flock.

Sources

[1] European Transport Safety Council. “Transport Safety Performance in the EU a Statistical Overview.” etsc.eu, 2003, https://etsc.eu/wp-content/uploads/2003_transport_safety_stats_eu_overview.pdf. Accessed 17 July 2024.

[2] Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. “Table 3-1: Transportation Fatalities by Mode (Number of People), Canada.” www144.statcan.gc.ca, 8 Feb. 2019, https://www144.statcan.gc.ca/nats-stna/tables-tableaux/tbl3-1/tbl3-1-CAN-eng.htm. Accessed 17 July 2024.

[3] United States Department of Transportation. “Distribution of Transportation Fatalities by Mode | Bureau of Transportation Statistics.” bts.gov, 2014, https://www.bts.gov/content/distribution-transportation-fatalities-mode. Accessed 17 July 2024.

[4] Savage, Ian. “Comparing the Fatality Risks in United States Transportation across Modes and over Time.” www.researchgate.net, Northwestern University, July 2013, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259131938_Comparing_the_fatality_risks_in_United_States_transportation_across_modes_and_over_time. Accessed 18 July 2024. Could only access abstract.

[5] U.S. Centers for Disease. “Bicycle Safety.” Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Motorcycle Safety, 28 May 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/pedestrian-bike-safety/about/bicycle-safety.html. Accessed 24 Sept. 2024.

[6] European Commission. “European Road Safety Observatory Facts and Figures - Cyclists - 2021.” 2021. https://road-safety.transport.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2022-03/FF_cyclists_20220209.pdf. Accessed 24 Sept. 2024.

[7] International Air Transport Association. “IATA Releases 2022 Airline Safety Performance.” www.iata.org, 7 Mar. 2023, https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/2023-releases/2023-03-07-01/. Accessed 25 Sept. 2024

[8] Dizikes, Peter. “Study: Commercial Air Travel Is Safer than Ever.” MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 23 Jan. 2020, https://news.mit.edu/2020/study-commercial-flights-safer-ever-0124. Accessed 25 Sept. 2024.

[9] World Health Organization. “Road Traffic Injuries.” World Health Organization, 13 Dec. 2023, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/road-traffic-injuries. Accessed 25 Sept. 2024.