In Australia the population that is of driving age has grown larger over the last five years, but the annual number of traffic fatalities has declined. This leads to the conclusion that, overall, the driving-age population of Australia consists of more skillful drivers now than five years ago. Each of the statements below, if true, weakens the argument EXCEPT: ['Five years ago, Australia began a major road repair project.', 'The number of hospital emergency facilities in Australia has doubled in the last five years.', 'Three years ago, a mandatory seat-belt law went into effect throughout Australia.', 'In response to an increase in traffic fatalities, Australia instituted a program of mandatory driver education five years ago.']