Safest Ways to Travel

Traveling is an activity filled with joy, anticipation, and enthusiasm. And it just happens that you are traveling to your sister's place to spend Christmas, with your bags packed and all, when you suddenly hear some news channel blaring about a plane crash.

You suddenly feel the blood rushing to your face, and wonder if flying the safest way to travel? Well, apprehension is tolerable to an extent, but getting overly apprehensive about safety during travel is bound to get you stressed to an extent that you develop a phobia for traveling.

When you travel, there are three modes of transport―road, air, and sea. You choose your pick depending on the place, the distance, and the financial aspect. For instance, you go by road if the journey is going to take you an hour or two. Even trains offer good commuting services.

If the distance is too much, and will take too long by road, then flights are considered. And if you are making a trip to an island, and you want to experience your first memorable cruise, then a ship or a cruiser are preferred. But each of the above has its set of risks, which might be overlooked, but cannot be avoided.

In the United States, despite high profile plane crashes, air travel is still sought after as a traveling option, considering the fact that the road route has become equally (or probably more than) unsafe for traveling, pertaining to the number of road accidents every year.

But yes, for most of the road kills, people are responsible themselves, as most ignore the driving circulation rules, and also consume excess alcohol before driving. Another major distraction when traveling by road is the use of a mobile phone, which is, many a time, one of the major causes of untimely and accidental deaths.

But if you consider traveling by air, I would say, it would be a better alternative as pilots do not drink before flying, and also no one is allowed to use any electronic device (like mobile phones) that transmits signals.

Besides, when traveling by air, there is already enough well preparedness and air travel restrictions for facing any issue when flying, should any come across.

Also, if you take a look at the statistics for 2008, there have been 0.2 fatal accidents per 1 million departures, which is substantially low than 1.4 accidents per 1 million departures of 1989.

Also, in the approximately 28 accidents which involved large commercial carriers, out of the 10.8 million flights between 2007―2008, there has not been any significant human casualty, except for material damage.

But if one takes a look at the death statistics by road, about 44,000 people have been killed in car accidents, which is definitely an alarming number. But all said and done, despite the fact that flying is one of the safest ways to travel, I would say, safety comes with a responsibility that comes from within, for every person.

If traveling by road, make sure you do not drink and drive. Mobile phones can wait to get your attention. And if your call is that important, then halt by the side of the road and attend to your calls. In public means of transport like flights, pilots should make sure that they do not drink before flying.

Also, before the flight departs, there is a lot of technical staff involved in servicing the plane. So, from the above, one could draw a conclusion that air travel is probably safer than any other means of travel.

It is quite strange, that people start thinking about safety only when traveling, because there is no place in this world without risk, and no matter what, events destined to happen will happen. Some people are afflicted with the fear of flying, which I would say, should not consume them so much, that the fear becomes irrational.

People who have been through dicey periods while flying, or have recovered from road accidents, or barely escaped a sinking cruise, might have the initial fear of traveling, because mental scars take a longer time to heal, with physical injuries meliorating faster.

However, it is important to remember in life, fear of flying, or fear of traveling, does not imply a plethora of dangers may cloud only during traveling. There are times, when even walking from your home to a departmental store can expose you to unexpected dangers on the way.

So, if you would ask me about the safest way to travel, I would say if each of them were safe, then each of them would be equally unsafe, depending on time and the circumstance. Make sure you have your travel insurance too, apart from your health being insured.

So just keep in mind, 'all's well that ends well'. Think positive when traveling, and put aside your fear. After all, life is too short to waste it in fear and apprehension, when it can be different; filled with adventure and joy. So, good luck with your travel plans.