Most Americans say flying is safe, particularly those who do it often, CBS News poll finds

Air travel has always been a topic of interest and concern for many people. With recent high-profile flight scares, it’s natural to question the safety of commercial airline travel. However, according to a recent CBS News/YouGov survey conducted with a nationally representative sample of 2,351 U.S. adults, the majority of Americans still believe that flying is a mostly safe mode of transportation.

Interestingly, the survey revealed that America’s more frequent flyers are even more likely to consider flying safe. On the other hand, people who rarely or never fly in a typical year are comparatively less likely to feel the same level of safety associated with air travel.

Overall, seven out of ten Americans feel that flying is either very or somewhat safe. This sentiment is further supported by the positive ratings given to the overall safety record of commercial air travel. Most Americans rate this record as either excellent or good, which is consistent with previous surveys conducted in 2014, shortly after the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.

It’s worth noting that public perception of airline safety can be influenced by high-profile incidents. Despite occasional dips in confidence following such events, the majority of Americans maintain a positive view of commercial airline safety.

In conclusion, while concerns about air travel safety may arise from time to time, the overall perception remains largely positive among the American public. As we continue to navigate the skies, it’s important to stay informed and aware of the facts surrounding air travel safety.

For more detailed information on the survey findings, you can refer to the toplines document linked above. Stay tuned for more updates from the CBS News Eye on Trends: The latest from the Election & Survey Unit.