The risk of death is five times greater if you __________ in a crash.

The risk of death is significantly higher for individuals who are thrown from a vehicle during a crash. When a person is ejected from the vehicle, they are exposed to numerous dangerous factors, such as impact with the ground or other objects, which greatly increases the likelihood of severe injury or fatality. The protection that a vehicle provides, including its structure and safety features like seatbelts and airbags, is lost when a person is outside the vehicle. This emphasizes the importance of wearing seatbelts and staying inside the vehicle during a collision, as doing so can dramatically reduce the possibility of being thrown from the car and, consequently, reduce the fatality risk.

In contrast, remaining behind the wheel and keeping control of the vehicle can lead to better outcomes in many scenarios, especially if proper safety measures are taken. Therefore, the specific circumstance of being thrown from a vehicle highlights why it represents such a significant risk in a crash.