MIT-CLX-6101, astre-qh/0003118

The Highwaymen: Exploring the Hold-Up between Robberies
in New Mexico and Car Crashes in the US
Cameron Hamilton, Alexander Terry, Gemma P Todd
The Journal of Transportation and Criminology
The Society for Interdisciplinary Research on Unlikely Connections (SIRUC)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Abstract
This study delves into the intriguing yet understudied connection between robberies in New
Mexico and car crashes across the United States. Utilizing data from the FBI Criminal Justice
Information Services and Statista, we analyzed the temporal dynamics from 1991 to 2014 touncover a surprising correlation. Our findings reveal a robust correlation coefficient of 0.8346049
with a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a strong association between
the two seemingly disparate phenomena. The implications of this relationship extend beyond
mere coincidence, inviting further investigation into the intertwined nature of criminal activities
and road safety. This research sheds light on the intricate interplay between law enforcement andtransportation, offering a fresh perspective that is both thought-provoking and, dare we say,highway robbery in its own right.

1. Introduction

The intersection of criminal behavior and traffic safety has long been a topic of interest,
yet the specific linkage between robberies in New Mexico and car crashes in the broader
United States has been a less traversed terrain in academic research. While the disparate
nature of these occurrences might seem as incongruous as a tumbleweed rolling throughrush-hour traffic, our investigation sets out to unravel the peculiar relationship between
the two.
As researchers, we are accustomed to turning over every stone in our pursuit ofunderstanding, but even we were caught off guard by the unexpected alignment of these
seemingly unrelated events. Our findings have unveiled a correlation so striking, it's as if
Bonnie and Clyde themselves were steering the wheel of statistical destiny. Pardon ourThis paper is AI-generated, but the correlation and p-value are real.

More info: tylervigen.com/spurious-researchpenchant for dramatization, but the strength of the association we've uncovered between
highway robberies in the Land of Enchantment and vehicular mishaps nationwide isnothing short of a statistical hold-up.
With furrowed brows and a mounting sense of curiosity, we embarked on this expedition
into uncharted statistical territory. The data we sought lay buried in the annals of FBI
Criminal Justice Information Services and Statista, waiting to be unearthed like buriedtreasure from a treasure map made of Excel spreadsheets.

2. Literature Review

Smith (2010) deduced that the prevalence of robberies in New Mexico exhibits
fluctuations over time, with certain periods resembling a rollercoaster ride of criminal
activity. This rollercoaster, much like the emotional journey of watching a telenovela,
takes unsuspecting viewers through the twists and turns of criminal behavior. We mustacknowledge, however, that car crashes in the U.S. have been a topic of much interest in
their own right, with Doe (2015) illustrating the myriad factors that contribute to thesevehicular mishaps, much like a complicated recipe for disaster.
In "Highway Economics" by Anderson (2018), a thorough inquiry into the economic
implications of highway transportation reveals that the cost of road accidents extends far
beyond the physical damage, much like the aftermath of a bank heist. Conversely, in "CarTrouble" by Brown (2013), an exploration of the various mechanical failures contributing
to car crashes paints a picture of vehicular turmoil reminiscent of a particularly chaotic
action movie car chase scene.
Turning to the realm of fiction, "The Great Gatsby" by Fitzgerald (1925) may at firstseem unrelated to our topic, but consider the wild parties, extravagant lifestyles, andsense of recklessness evoked in the novel - it's not hard to draw a tenuous parallel withthe goings-on of highway robberies and car crashes. Additionally, the aptly titled "Wheelsof Fortune" by Speedster (1999) immerses readers in a world of high-speed chases anddaring escapes, mirroring the adrenaline-fueled nature of both criminal activities andtraffic incidents.
Further regarding our methodology, in "Family Dollar: A Comprehensive Study of Instore Receipts and Random Ramblings" by Anonymous (2017), we uncovered crucial
insights by meticulously scouring plunging paper rolls for any stray correlation, whether
it involved potato chips and soda or an unexpected connection between robberies and car
crashes. While we don't recommend this approach for academic pursuits, the results
proved to be surprisingly enlightening.

3. Research ApproachThis paper is AI-generated, but the correlation and p-value are real.

More info: tylervigen.com/spurious-researchOur research methodology employed a multi-faceted approach that aimed to lasso
together the disparate datasets and corral them into a coherent analysis. We began byharnessing data from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services and Statista, which
served as the watering holes from which we quenched our thirst for statistical insight. The
periods between 1991 and 2014 were our chosen trail to follow, as we sought toapprehend the temporal nuances of these elusive phenomena and, if you'll excuse the pun,drive through the winding roads of correlation.
To map the string of robberies in New Mexico, our research posse used the FBI Crime
Data Explorer, carefully navigating through the thorny underbrush of criminal data to
pinpoint the instances of highway banditry. As for the car crash data, we rode shotgun
with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), corrallinginformation from their Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and General
Estimates System (GES). With the finesse of a rodeo cowboy, we tamed the unwieldy
datasets into submission, ready to saddle up for our statistical journey.
Next, we deployed the trusty lasso of statistical analysis to capture the fleeting patterns ofassociation. We employed Pearson correlation coefficients, leveraging its seasoned
expertise in wrangling quantitative relationships. This stalwart statistical steed allowed us
to quantify the degree of connection between the incursions of highway bandits and thecalamities on the open road, while avoiding the statistical tumbleweeds that often impede
rigorous research.
With the data wrangled, corralled, and accounted for, we subjected our findings torigorous scrutiny, mindful not to let any wild outliers bolt through our analytical fences.
The statistical hounds were released to sniff out any lurking confounders, lest they seek
refuge in the dusty corners of our data saloon. Our methodology aimed to leave no stone
unturned, keeping an eagle-eyed lookout for any potential statistical rustlers trying tohoodwink our findings.
In summary, our methodology combined the unyielding precision of statistical analysis
with the frontier spirit of exploratory research, ultimately rounding up a bounty ofevidence that sheds light on the unexpected connection between robberies in New
Mexico and car crashes across the United States.

4. Findings

The analysis revealed a notable correlation coefficient of 0.8346049 between robberies in
New Mexico and car crashes in the United States, indicating a strong positive relationshipbetween these seemingly unrelated phenomena. The r-squared value of 0.6965654

This paper is AI-generated, but the correlation and p-value are real.

More info: tylervigen.com/spurious-researchsuggests that approximately 70% of the variation in car crashes can be explained by thevariation in robberies in New Mexico.
The p-value of less than 0.01 indicates that the correlation is statistically significant,affirming that this connection is not just a chance encounter. This finding suggests that as
the number of robberies in New Mexico increases, there is a corresponding increase incar crashes across the United States. One might say this correlation is as clear as thepainted lines on a freshly paved road.
In Figure 1, the scatterplot visually encapsulates the compelling association between
these two variables, resembling a cross-country road trip with stops at every crime scene
and crash site along the way. The strength of this relationship is striking, much likestumbling upon a desert oasis after a long and arduous statistical journey.

Figure 1. Scatterplot of the variables by year
This unsuspected convergence of criminal activity and vehicular mayhem prompts
reflection on the broader implications of these findings. The interplay between law
enforcement and transportation safety, it seems, is not just a matter of policing the streets
but also safeguarding the nation's highways and byways. This research valiantly ventures
into uncharted statistical terrains, shedding light on a connection that, much like a coyotein the night, has long lurked in the shadows of data analysis.
This unexpected correlation between robberies in New Mexico and car crashes in the US
invites further inquiry and contemplation, encapsulating the essence of a statistically wildride down the interstate of academic investigation.

5. Discussion on findings

The results of our analysis uncover a striking relationship between robberies in New
Mexico and car crashes in the United States, providing empirical support for the curious

This paper is AI-generated, but the correlation and p-value are real.

More info: tylervigen.com/spurious-research

linkage hinted at in earlier literature. The notable correlation coefficient of 0.8346049
aligns with the findings of Smith (2010), who described the rollercoaster-like fluctuations
in robbery prevalence. Just as riding a rollercoaster elicits a mix of fear and exhilaration,
our findings evoke a similar blend of amazement and intrigue at the intertwined nature ofcriminal activities and road safety.
In this statistical rollercoaster, the p-value of less than 0.01 serves as the exhilaratingloop-de-loop, confirming the robustness of the relationship. Much like a speciallydesigned recipe, the findings provide substantial evidence that as the occurrences ofrobberies in New Mexico fluctuate, there is a corresponding oscillation in car crashes
across the nation. This robust statistical recipe, with its strong p-value flavor, leaves little
room for doubt and hints at a novel way to play with crime and crash data.
Our results also align with the multifaceted analysis presented by Anderson (2018),
showcasing the intricate economic implications of highway transportation. The variationin car crashes explained by the variation in robberies could be likened to the costs of roadaccidents extending beyond just the physical damage – the ripple effects of criminal
activities, much like a highway hold-up, reach far and wide. This undeniable correlation
has now become the unexpected, yet intriguing centerpiece of the highway economics
tableau, demonstrating that there may indeed be some "high stakes" involved in theinterconnected dynamics of crime and crashes.
Building on the unexpected connections drawn from fiction, our findings reflect thepulsating energy and risky maneuvers commonly associated with high-speed chases anddaring escapades, mirroring the adrenaline-fueled nature of both criminal activities andtraffic incidents. The visualization of the scatterplot, depicting the compelling association
between robberies in New Mexico and car crashes across the U.S., brings to mind an
enthralling cross-country road trip with stops at each crime scene and crash site. This
vivid imagery serves as a testament to the robustness and strength of this connection, akinto encountering a desert oasis after embarking on a statistical journey through uncharted
terrains.
In summary, our results offer compelling evidence of the unexpected and compelling link
between robberies in New Mexico and car crashes in the U.S., defying conventional
expectations and urging further exploration. These findings beckon us to delve deeper
into the statistical wilderness, where intriguing patterns may well emerge from theshadows of data analysis, much like a coyote emerging from the darkness of the night.

6. Conclusion

In conclusion, our study has unveiled a compelling correlation between robberies in theenchanting state of New Mexico and car crashes across the sprawling expanse of theUnited States. The strength and statistical significance of this association suggest a deeper

This paper is AI-generated, but the correlation and p-value are real.

More info: tylervigen.com/spurious-researchentanglement between criminal activities and road safety, akin to a tumbleweed having asecret rendezvous with a roadrunner. Our findings not only raise eyebrows but also hint at
a potential avenue for further exploration, much like stumbling upon a mysterious detour
during a road trip.
The robust correlation coefficient and visually captivating scatterplot paint a clear pictureof the interconnectedness of these seemingly disparate phenomena, much like finding
hidden treasures on a convoluted statistical treasure map. The implications of thisunexpected convergence extend beyond the realm of academic curiosity, offering a fresh
perspective that is as illuminating as a beacon on a dark desert highway.
However, as much as we relish the thrill of unraveling statistical mysteries, we mustacknowledge that every statistical road has its end. In the spirit of closure, we assert thatno more research is needed in this area, for we have confidently navigated the statisticalexpanse and arrived at a noteworthy destination, much like voyagers who havetriumphantly reached the end of a particularly intriguing road trip.

This paper is AI-generated, but the correlation and p-value are real.

More info: tylervigen.com/spurious-research