2. Hang-gliding is safer than horse- riding … to judge by a new survey of sports deaths. The Times, 12 March 1987 The data: In 1985, 15 people died in horse-riding accidents, compared to one death from hang-gliding. Is the headline reasonable? What else might you need to know to make a judgement?

3. … riding has now overtaken motorcycling as the biggest cause of rural casualties The BBC 23 March 2007 The data: In 2007, it was reported that you could expect a serious motorbike accident every 7000 hours, compared to a serious riding accident every 350 hours. Is the headline reasonable? What else might you need to know to make a judgement?

4. 1 micromort is defined as a 1 in a million chance of dying 1 million micromorts is a mort, and means certain death. In order to compare risks of different activities, we need a common currency or unit or risk.

5. 1 micromort is equivalent to: 230 miles in a car 6000 miles in a train 3 flights 1 micromort is a 1 in a million chance of dying

6. A general anaesthetic in a UK hospital carries a risk of 5 micromorts, on average, equivalent to: riding a motorcycle 30 miles riding in a car 1000 miles going on one scuba-dive living 4 hours as a heroin user or serving 4 hours in the UK army in Afghanistan 1 micromort is defined as a 1 in a million chance of dying 1 million micromorts is a mort, and means certain death.

7. UK service personnel are exposed to an average of 33 micromorts per day equivalent to riding a motorcycle from London to Manchester of course, front-line troops are exposed to considerably greater risks, as this is an average figure. 1 micromort is defined as a 1 in a million chance of dying 1 million micromorts is a mort, and means certain death.

8. 1 hang-gliding flight is equivalent to 8 micromorts. 1 ride on a horse is equivalent to half a micromort. 6 miles on a motorcycle is equivalent to 1 micromort. 1 micromort is a 1 in a million chance of dying What do you think? Which is most dangerous? What do you think? Which is most dangerous?

9. What do you make of these headlines now?