Is that accurate? How many people are killed in the US every year by trains, versus (for example) Europe, which ought to have better unions? Should be higher in the US, I assume?
Let's compare the death rate of US astronauts per shuttle flight to the death rate of -say- Haitians astronauts per shuttle flight.
Oh, I'll be damned, said Haitians have a death rate of 0. They're clearly much safer. Even without unions.
How many people commute by train in EU everyday compared to US?