Drivers realize that driving at excessive speeds is the main cause of collisions on highways. The state has the financial means to install more highway patrol forces and give funding to the automobile industry. The cost to install more highway patrol forces will be less than the amount of funding that would be given to the automobile industry. The increased presence of the highway patrol will not itself somehow cause more accidents than it prevents.
Jill: State funding has been recommended to encourage the automobile industry to create vehicles that will better withstand collisions. Unless new vehicles are made that can better withstand collisions, highway safety cannot be improved. The automobile industry does not have the funds to conduct the research needed to produce vehicles that are better equipped to withstand collisions. Hence, without this state funding, the safety of drivers is compromised. Mark: But collisions on our highways occur mainly because of drivers driving at excessive speeds, which will stop once the state increases highway patrol forces to catch speeders. Ttherefore, the state' s highways will be safer even without the state funding this research for the automobile industry.
Which one of the following is an assumption on which Mark's argument depends?