On Feb 22, 10:19*am, michael case wrote:
Perhaps I have been sheltered,

But I have never heard the claim the flying gliders was safer than
driving.

What I have heard and my amateur review of the fatality numbers per
hour seems to confirm is.

Flying commercial airlines is safer than driving.

GA flying about the same as riding a motorcycle

GA flying can be as safe as driving if you eliminate low flying and
bad weather flying.

Glider flying is more dangerous than GA flying, I am unsure by what
factor.

*************
Of course there are many ways to look at the numbers. One can count
fatalities, injuries or accidents. One can count per vehicals or per
person. *Just those two variables give about 12 different
combination's of ways to count the numbers,

However I am looking forward to Tom's Analysis.

Brian
CFIIG/ASEL

Statements like "safer than" or "more dangerous than" are not
extremely useful. The statistical base for pilots, and the quality of
those statistics, is too small and sketchy to meaningfully compare one
activity with another.

Safety in the air depends almost entirely on the individual pilot
whose attitude, self-discipline, skill-set and knowledge determine the
level of safety for that pilot. Statements to the effect that
"soaring is dangerous" serves a useful purpose only to the extent that
it encourages individual pilots to acquire those traits and practice
safe behavior.

A more meaningful approach would be to discuss how we individually
can safely manage an unforgiving system. Soaring is certainly
unforgiving of any neglect or carelessness - Individually, we need to
learn how to manage those risks. It might be correct to say "soaring
is extremely dangerous for careless, neglectful pilots" but is
relatively safe for "careful, disciplined pilots".