Why do people fear flying more than driving?

Why are people so much more scared of flying than driving? Seriously, it baffles me sometimes. I mean, flying freaks me out way more than driving, and I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. Is it just me? I think it’s all about feeling in control, you know? When I’m behind the wheel of my beat-up Honda Civic – bless its rusty heart – I feel like I’m in charge. If some jerk cuts me off, I can slam on the brakes (though I usually just mutter darkly under my breath and hope for the best). But on a plane? It’s a whole different story. You’re basically a sardine in a metal tube, thirty thousand feet in the air, totally at the mercy of…well, physics and the pilot’s questionable caffeine intake, let’s be honest.

It’s that helplessness, I think. That feeling of being completely out of control. Remember that time I was flying back from my sister’s wedding in Denver? There was this insane turbulence – I swear, I thought we were gonna plummet. My knuckles were white, I was practically vibrating. Everyone else seemed pretty chill, sipping their tiny airplane drinks, but me? I was pretty sure I was about to meet my maker. And that’s terrifying! It’s like handing your life over to a stranger – a stranger who’s wearing a really nice uniform, granted, but still. A stranger. Driving, even in rush hour traffic, just doesn’t compare. You’re right there, you can see what’s going on, you can react. I’d rather deal with a crazy driver than a terrifying drop in altitude, any day. So, yeah, I get it. The fear is real. For me, anyway. Maybe it’s just me being a giant scaredy-cat… but I’m okay with that.