Research in behavioral economics suggests that subtle environmental designs, such as optical illusions on roads, can encourage safer driving behaviors more effectively than standard speed signs. To investigate this, a traffic researcher conducted an observational study on speed limit compliance along a busy urban commuter route. The local council painted horizontal white lines that became progressively closer together approaching a pedestrian crossing, creating a visual illusion of acceleration to nudge drivers to slow down. An identical stretch of road nearby had no such markings.
The number of drivers complying with the 30 mph speed limit was recorded during a morning commute period from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM. The data, categorized by local residents and non-resident commuters, is shown in the table below.
Table showing the number of drivers complying with the speed limit:
| Local Residents | Non-resident Commuters | |
|---|---|---|
| Section with visual nudge | 42 | 35 |
| Section without visual nudge | 38 | 14 |
Outline two conclusions that can be obtained from the data collected in this study.