A closer look
Airlines intentionally print safety cards and emergency exit instructions with brightly colored, cartoonish illustrations to prevent passengers from having massive panic attacks. Psychological studies determined that if the safety manuals featured realistic depictions of a flaming aircraft plunging into the ocean, people would absolutely refuse to fly. Instead, we get soothing pastel drawings of entirely calm individuals sliding down inflatable rafts like they are at a summer waterpark, completely ignoring the fiery wreckage behind them. The design purposely removes all visual anxiety from the concept of a catastrophic mechanical failure at thirty thousand feet. So the next time you browse the seatback pocket, just remember that the airline is treating you like a toddler to mask the sheer terror of falling out of the sky
