Seat Belts

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Seat Belts

by Soumita Ghosh » Tue Feb 12, 2013 8:53 am
Image

OA B

I am confused with A and B

Choice A :- as per the choice A it is given that Over 80 percent of driving is done at speeds less than 40 mph. As per the premise of the argument a new design for seat belts has been shown to reduce accident fatalities in accidents that occur when the vehicle is traveling at speeds less than 40 mph by 50 percent. The choice A supports the conclusion which is a recent law to make the new seat belt design mandatory in all cars will reduce fatalities from car accidents by more than 25 percent as the choice A mentions that 80 percent driving is done less than 40 mph. So seat belt will reduce 80 percent of the accident which is of course over 25 percent.

Choice B:- As per the choice B it is given that More fatal accidents occurred in residential areas, where the speed limits are 35 mph or less, than occurred in all other areas combined. This also supports the argument. Seat belt able t prevent accident which is occur at less than 40 mph. So as per the choice B more accidents occur in residential areas when speed limit is 35 mph or less so a a recent law to make seat belt design compulsory will reduce fatal accidents.
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by Kasia@EconomistGMAT » Tue Feb 12, 2013 11:56 am
A - incorrect, what if 80% of driving happens at speed < 40 mph but 100% accidents happen in the 20% of driving beyond this speed limit?
B - correct, if most accidents do happen at the speed of 35 mph or less, the speed at which new seat belts have proven to help improve safety, then the conclusion is strengthened
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by ceilidh.erickson » Tue Feb 12, 2013 1:56 pm
I agree with Kasia's reasoning, but I just want to point out... this question, like many others from this source, is poorly written.

- "authors claim" should be "author's claim"
- there is a logical discrepancy between "vehicles" and "cars"
- "law to make [something] mandatory" is an awkward and un-GMAT-like construction

If you notice grammar errors in a question, it's probably not a great source to study from.
Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education