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> What's the back of the envelope on whether the 737 Max is more dangerous than driving?

Driving is an absurdly dangerous mode of transportation, so it’s probably not the best comparison.

It's the one most Americans use everyday, so it tells us about the risks that most people find accessible for the benefit they get.

Perhaps on an individual level, but on a policy level, it makes sense that the safety standards for flying are higher for flying than for driving.

I sort of agree. There is some cost-safety trade-off curve, and it's almost certainly true that you can get more safety for less cost/hassle on airplanes (or any large-group travel) than private cars. So in that sense, yes, the optimal amount of safety will be higher for planes.

However, I think we should still respect individual preferences for safety in the sense that public transit should try and make the trade-offs individuals would make according to their values. In practice that means trying to estimate the value individuals put on safety through their revealed preferences, with cars being a key example. Although there are some choices the FAA makes here that a smart, on some other choices I think they impose hassles on passengers that aren't remotely justified by the safety benefit, e.g., mandatory seat belt use.

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