#4 - On a short trip a driver is more likely to have an

[LSAT2018]

Is answer (D) saying the same thing in the stimulus that on a long trip a driver is more likely to have an accident if the driver is alone? Otherwise, why is it incorrect compared to the correct answer (C)?

[Jay Donnell]

Hi LSAT2018!

The key behind why D is incorrect involves the phrasing of 'each additional passenger.' This means that whether there are two, three or four people in the car, the accident risk would be the same in either case.

The key to the paradox is the difference between short and long distance trips, where in a short trip the passenger(s) increase the risk of accident but a driver is more likely to crash on a long trip while they are alone.

The correct response works to resolve this paradox by highlighting a major difference in the two lengths of voyages, where on a longer trip the struggle of remaining alert is behoved by having a companion, a struggle which is significantly less of an issue in a shorter voyage.

Hope that helps!