Second GRE argument
Critical essay about the following argument:
"Six months ago the region of Forestville increased the speed limit for vehicles traveling on the region's highways by ten miles per hour. Since that change took effect, the number of automobile accidents in that region has increased by 15 percent. But the speed limit in Elmsford, a region neighboring Forestville, remained unchanged, and automobile accidents declined slightly during the same six-month period. Therefore, if the citizens of Forestville want to reduce the number of automobile accidents on the region's highways, they should campaign to reduce Forestville's speed limit to what it was before the increase."
The argument suggests that the increase in speed limit in the region of Forestville made the highways more dangerous, leading to an increase in accidents. But there are some other factors that could have increased the danger, which can be independent or indirectly dependent on the speed limit.
Firstly, it would be wise to analyse the relation between the highways of Forestville and Elmsford. Traffic from Elmsford region could be choosing to drive through Forestville to enjoy the higher speed limit. With a higher volume of traffic, independent on the speed, Forestville is likely to have more accidents and Elmsford, with smaller volume would have a decline. To further analyze this possibility, it would be interesting to compare the statistics of accidents with the statistics of traffic volume in both regions. It could be better to raise both speed limits than to reduce Forestville´s limit to its previous value.
The traffic volume in Forestville could also have rised because of external factors. An alternative route could have been blocked for maintanance, forcing the drivers to use Forestville´s highways instead. Or the economy in the region may be better or a new company may have settled in theregion.
The variations in the numbers of accidents could be due to the worsening of the highways. Maybe Forestville is spending less money to maintain its highways in a good state than Elmsford. And worse roads could imply more accidents too.
If the objective is to reduce danger, Forestville should also analyze, besides the idea of reducing the speed limit again, the availability and effectiviness of improving the highways, puting more signals alongside it, to warn drivers of specially dangerous places, or using a more adherent floor in the highways´ construction.
