EXAMPLE 2 Yet more snow

News reports of snowstorms say things like “A winter storm spread snow across the area, causing 28 minor traffic accidents.” Eric Meyer, a reporter in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, says he often called the sheriff to gather such numbers. One day, he decided to ask the sheriff how many minor accidents are typical in good weather: about 48, said the sheriff. Perhaps, says Meyer, the news should say, “Today’s winter storm prevented 20 minor traffic accidents.”