Two studies by a group of Cornell University researchers have found that strict airport security in the United States after the 9/11 attacks has the unintended consequence of increasing road fatalities , as would-be air travelers decide to drive and are exposed to the far greater risk of dying in a car accident . In 2005 , the researchers looked at the immediate aftermath of the attacks of September 11 , 2001 , and found that the change in passenger travel modes led to 242 added driving deaths per month . In all , they estimated that about 1,200 driving deaths could be attributed to the short-term effects of the attacks
9/11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Security theater