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FAA Data Shows Exploding Batteries Are Rare, Small Risk
ericatcw writes "While the US government is intent on adding new rules around the shipment and carrying of Lithium-Ion batteries on passenger and cargo planes, data from its own Federal Aviation Agency show that the risk of being on an airplane where someone — not necessarily you — suffers a minor injury due to a battery is only one in 28 million, reports Computerworld, which analyzed the data (skip to the chart here) using the free Tableau Public data visualization service. Getting killed in a car accident, by contrast, is 4,300 times more likely. Opponents say the rules could raise the cost of shopping online and add hassles for fliers and consumers."
Don't even need knock out gas. Just drop cabin pressure, everyone will fall asleep eventually.
This would have seriously pissed me off when I was traveling to India. I took 6 spare batteries for my SLR. (Electricity was shaky, and I could get almost a full week of shooting with out recharging)
Unfortunately, sanity is not the most common attribute for rule-makers. It is all about perceived risk, not actual risk.
The university I go to is basically banning bake sales and 'cooked goods' sales on campus for fear of the event that someone might get sick from it.... nevermind the fact that they've been going on nearly daily for decades without issues... nevermind the fact that there haven't been any complaints about it and the buyers are fully aware of the food and its production/delivery.
Move along and keep your head down, it is now illegal to look up because you might accidentally look right at the sun and suffer eye damage...
(sarcastic example of the bleak future of this kind of thinking)