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Q
uantitative
R
easoning &
P
roblem
S
olving
324
© 2014 Pacific Crest
Scenario:
Using the Observed Occurrences of Distracted Driving at a Location in
Massachusetts (from the Discovery Exercise)
Step
Watch it Work!
1.
Clarify the data The following data set consists of the number of cases of observed
distracted driving at one location in Massachusetts.
Seven categories of distracted driving were developed to enable
classification of observations.
Observations were made during five one-hour time periods.
Researchers performed one hour of observations and collected the results
in a table.
2.
Clarify the context
The local college students wanted to produce evidence for the state
legislature to create a ban on driving while using cell phones.
They used several observers to inventory the number of each category of
distracted driving cases for the hours of the day.
The state highway commission provided them with the reasons for
accidents in their city (these reasons were self-reported and individuals
may not have been honest about the cause of their accident).
3.
Develop inquiry
questions
How important a role does the mobile telephone play in producing
accidents?
Is telephone use a common reason for distracted driving?
Is distracted driving a common cause of auto accidents?
Is telephone use a common cause of auto accidents?
In what ways could the telephone cause a traffic accident?
4.
Produce relevant
graphs
Lane issues /
off road (9%)
Inattention
Failure to yield
Following too closely
Lane issues / off road
Too fast for conditions
Other important action
Swerving etc.
Distracted
Unknown
Poor visibility
Too fast for
conditions (8%)
Other important
action (6%)
Swerving, etc. (4%)
Distracted (3%)
Unknown (3%)
Poor visibility (3%)
Fatigued driver (2%)
Inattention
(28%)
Failure
to yield
(20%)
Following
too closely
(14%)