Logic Breakdown

Passage Summary: Since people naturally drive at 120 km/h on straight roads and matching limits to actual speeds improves safety, we should make 120 km/h the official limit.

Conclusion: A uniform national speed limit of 120 kilometers per hour should be established for straight, level sections of high-speed roads.

Reasoning: Research indicates that setting speed limits to match the actual average speed of traffic reduces accidents, and the average speed on these specific roads is 120 km/h.

Analysis: This argument moves from a descriptive finding (what happens when limits match behavior) to a prescriptive recommendation (what the law should be). To justify this leap, we need a principle that connects safety outcomes to legal mandates. Look for an answer choice that establishes a rule, such as 'the primary criterion for setting speed limits should be the maximization of traffic safety' or 'laws should be adjusted to reflect common behavior if doing so increases public welfare.'

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21.

Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the reasoning above?

Correct Answer
E
It states that any measure that reduces traffic accidents should be implemented. Since matching speed limits to actual average speeds reduces accidents and 120 km/h reflects those averages, this principle directly justifies adopting a uniform 120 km/h limit.
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