When flying, more is down to the person on board, pre flight planning and airworthiness checks, weather checks, and general competance. Also, if you do go down generally the only people who get hurt are those on board, it is very rare to injure people on the ground.
When driving, you are at the mercy of other road users, as the above example of motorcycle users.
Also although GA accidents are still few, they have more dramatic results than a car crash these days with ABS, seat belts and a whole host of air bags.
I find if someone needs to be calmed down, I do everything to reassure them of how safe flying is. I'd certainly have to eat my words if the engine quit shortly after take off with very few landing sites available, but that's the calculated risk I take.