More Education Improves Driving? Although traffic fatalities have been decreasing for years, this decrease has not been experienced equally in all segments of the population. In fact, although the overall rate of traffic fatalities has been decreasing, the rate has declined the most for those with more education and has actually gone up for those without high school degrees. A recent study shows that among those over 25, as education level increased from less than high school, to high school grad, to some college, to
college grad, the rate of motor vehicle crash deaths decreased. $\underline{2}$
a. What are the explanatory and response variables?
b. Those with less education tend to drive cars that are older, have poorer crash test ratings, and have fewer safety features such as side airbags. Are the variables age of car, crash test rating, and presence of safety features explanatory variables, response variables, or lurking variables? Explain your reason.
c. Is the association between traffic fatalities and education level good reason to think that a higher level of education actually causes an individual to be a safer driver? Explain why or why not.