"According to scientists and others who study the phenomenon, there have
been as many as 10,000 accidents attributed to unintended acceleration
nationwide since 1985.

Memorize that. Include the source, so you're not suspected of promoting an
urban legend. Repeat it every time someone asks if flying isn't dangerous. The
85-year-old man responsible for the market killings would have lost his pilot's
certificate long before this incident.

If you want to be proactive, every time some old or impaired driver squishes
some innocent bystanders, mildly point out that that kind of thing doesn't
happen in aviation.