Final answer:
Two-thirds of all traffic fatalities are estimated by the NHTSA to be associated with aggressive driving behaviors such as speeding, DUI, distracted driving, and not using seat belts. The accuracy of related statistics, such as the AAA's claim of driver error in 54% of fatal accidents, can be assessed using statistical hypothesis testing at a specified significance level.
Step-by-step explanation:
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that two-thirds of all traffic fatalities are associated with aggressive driving behaviors such as speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, distracted driving (like using cell phones), and not wearing seat belts. These behaviors increase the likelihood of accidents leading to fatalities. To analyze the accuracy of such statistics or given proportions, one would typically employ statistical methods, sometimes including hypothesis testing, to determine whether observed data (such as the results of a study or a set of accidents) significantly deviates from the expected proportion or not.
In the scenario where the American Automobile Association (AAA) reported that driver error contributes to 54% of fatal auto accidents, a sample study of 30 accidents reveals 14 caused by driver error. To evaluate the claim's accuracy, a hypothesis test can be used, where the null hypothesis (H0) is that the true proportion is equal to 0.54, against an alternative hypothesis (H1) that it is not equal to 0.54. Using the significance level (α = 0.05), the test could indicate whether the observed proportion in the sample (14 out of 30) significantly differs from the AAA's stated proportion.