Evaluating Traffic Congestion Arguments

Hard Critical Reasoning Evaluating Arguments

A recent city council meeting addressed the rising levels of traffic congestion in the downtown area. During the discussion, a council member argued, "Implementing wider roads will significantly decrease traffic congestion, as more vehicles will be able to travel through the area without obstruction." Another member countered, stating, "Wider roads may actually encourage more vehicles to enter the downtown, ultimately worsening congestion rather than alleviating it." The tension grew as they considered whether to move forward with the proposal.

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument that building wider roads will significantly decrease traffic congestion?

Traffic studies indicate that areas with wider roads often experience an increase in traffic volume.

Implementing wider roads requires substantial funding that may not be available.

Many city residents support the idea of building wider roads to improve commuting times.

Studies show that many drivers prefer using public transportation over driving.

Hint

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% Correct87%