Vending Machines Kill More People Than Sharks Each Year
A menacing vending machine in a dark alley casting a shadow shaped like a shark fin
Vending machines cause an average of 13 deaths per year in the United States, usually from people rocking or tipping them. Sharks kill about 5 people globally per year on average.
Why Itβs Interesting
It perfectly demonstrates the availability heuristic β we overestimate threats that are vivid and cinematic while ignoring everyday dangers. Media coverage makes sharks seem lethal, while nobody makes a horror movie about a Coca-Cola machine.
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