[brokenpromise]

> My point here is, when I'm driving a car, I can control my personal risk.

Yeah, if you never looked at the evidence or psychology then I suppose you would come to that conclusion.

> With flying, most of the risk factors are completely out of my hands.

Why do you think flying is so much safer than driving?

[quuquuquu]

Re: your first point, how can you say I have not looked at evidence or psychology?

The aggregate statistics for road deaths and injuries include drunk drivers, high speed two way roads in Wyoming, winter collisions, etc.

I don't drive drunk. I don't drive on high speed two way roads. I don't live in a wintery place.

The aggregate statistics do not represent my driving habits. I am controlling my risk.

Re your second point, yes flying is safe. I don't dispute it. However, people /still die/ while flying. Ok, now why is that?

Planes are hijacked. Engines fail. Planes collide. Planes are shot down.

I can't control the situation once it occurs. I can only choose to not fly.

When I'm driving, I can choose my type of car. I can drive defensively. I can avoid certain roads.

You might think this is just an illusion of control, but how many people have died in a 25 mph crash in a very safe truck on side roads?

How many people have died on two lane roads at night with alcohol involved?

[gambiting]

I know that HN is a very specific crowd, but humans are not machines - just because I know flying is safer than driving does not make me feel any better about it. Same reason why I feel very unsafe when I'm a passanger in a car vs. driving myself - I feel in control of the situation, even though statistically it's not a safe situation to be in at all.