What is suggested when speed feedback signs are associated with reduced fatalities?

When speed feedback signs are associated with reduced fatalities, this situation primarily illustrates correlation. Correlation indicates a relationship between two variables, where changes in one may be linked to changes in the other. In this context, the presence of speed feedback signs correlates with lower fatality rates, suggesting that as drivers receive feedback about their speed, they may adjust their behavior and reduce speeds, leading to safer driving conditions.

It's important to note that correlation does not imply that the speed feedback signs directly cause the reduction in fatalities. Other factors could also play a role in this relationship, making it a correlation rather than establishing direct causation. Understanding this distinction is vital to interpreting data in road safety and the effectiveness of interventions like speed feedback signs.

While statistical significance relates to the probability that the relationship observed is not due to random chance, and regression to the mean addresses how extreme outcomes tend to be followed by more moderate ones, these concepts do not directly define the relationship between speed feedback signs and reduced fatalities as effectively as correlation does.