Question

1. which of the following is true about yearly highway rail crashes?

a. fewer people die in highway rail crashes than in commercial airline crashes.
b. a motorist is just as likely to suffer a fatal injury in a crash with a train as with another motor vehicle.
c. only about 10 people die per year in car vs. train accidents.
d. more people die in highway rail crashes than in commercial airline crashes.

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Commercial airline crashes have relatively few fatalities annually (often in the dozens or less in major crashes, with overall commercial aviation being very safe), while highway - rail crashes (car - train collisions) result in more deaths than commercial airline crashes. So A is false.
• Option B: A crash with a train is much more likely to be fatal for a motorist than a crash with another motor vehicle, as trains are extremely large and heavy. So B is false.
• Option C: The number of deaths per year in car - vs - train accidents is more than 10 (usually in the hundreds in the US, for example). So C is false.
• Option D: Commercial airline crashes have very low fatality rates annually, and highway rail crashes (car - train collisions) result in more deaths than commercial airline crashes. So D is true.

Answer:

D. More people die in highway rail crashes than in commercial airline crashes.