If you’re scared of flying, you’re not alone.

Across the globe, roughly three million people fly every day. Statistically speaking, one in three people is afraid of flying, which means that on any given day there are a million people in the sky who are utterly terrified of being there.

How’s that for some motivation to face your fears today? Ask for that raise, eat that candy bar, face that duck*, you’ve earned it.

For those of you who hate flying, we have some good news. The latest safety report published by the International Civil Aviation Organization in Montreal says that 2017 was aviation’s safest year ever, writes FLYING.

By the numbers, ICAO says last year there were 4.1 billion passengers travelling on scheduled commercial air services worldwide that resulted in 50 fatalities. Nonetheless, this rate of 12.2 fatalities per billion passengers represents the safest year on record for aviation. The number of fatal accidents declined to five from seven in 2016, also the lowest number on recent record.

Although there was a spike in fatalities in 2014 and 2015, these were largely attributed to unlawful interference (hijackings etc) rather than technical difficulties. In 2017, the number of significant safety concerns is down by 50%.

There you go – flying really is the safest way to travel.

*Anatidaephobia – the very real certified fear that somewhere, somehow, a duck is watching you.

[source:flying]