More children will die...

[makattak]

As a result of stupidity like this:

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2010/09/07/montana-plane-crash-revives-lap-child-debate/?test=latestnews

The National Transportation Safety Board is asking aviation regulators to require all passengers to have their own seats and seat belts, including children under the age of 2 who are now allowed to sit on an adult's lap during takeoff, landing and turbulence.

Wait, what? How is that possible?

I mean, after all, this will make children SAFER, right? Since now they will have their own seat and be strapped into that seat. Fewer children will die in plane crashes!!!

This is why I weep for economics education. I pounded into my students heads, always look to consequences beyond the immediate.

Fewer children will die in plane crashes, but fewer children will be taken on planes now. If you require people to purchase a full ticket for their child, they are less likely to take their child on a plane and will instead opt to drive more often.

So according to the National Safety Council,

http://www.nsc.org/news_resources/Documents/nscInjuryFacts2011_037.pdf

Odds of dying in an "Air or Space Transport Accident": 1 in 5,862 or .017%
Odds of dying as "Car occupant":  1 in 272 or .36%

Yeah, good job keeping the children safe, NTSB. 

[CNYCacher]

The best part about the stupidity is that everyone on that plane died., so what is the point of claiming that the kids should have been in seats?

I could see if the plane crashed and all the kids not in seats died, whereas children in seats were ok.

[makattak]

Ironically, at least so far, the FAA has realized this tradeoff.

NTSB continues to claim it doesn't exist.