Final answer:
To prevent highway hypnosis, it's critical to take breaks every two hours or when signs of fatigue surface. In emergencies, such as when a pregnant woman in labor needs to get to a hospital, rule utilitarianism might justify breaking a traffic law, but such actions are generally illegal and should not be standard practice.
Step-by-step explanation:
To prevent highway hypnosis, it's important to understand when it's necessary to stop and take a break. Highway hypnosis occurs during monotonous driving conditions, which can lead to decreased alertness and reaction time. However, there are unique situations, such as a medical emergency, that may require breaking standard traffic laws, such as driving through a red light to reach a hospital quickly. In the case provided, where a pregnant woman is about to deliver and is minutes away from the hospital at 4 am with no other vehicles around, a rule utilitarianism approach might suggest that going through the red light could be morally acceptable, as it would lead to a greater good, i.e., ensuring the mother and baby's safety.
However, such situations are exceptional and you should ordinarily follow all traffic laws to ensure safety. Daily driving scenarios, like being stuck behind a slower vehicle or considering how your driving behavior changes when a police car is behind you, can also influence one's driving decisions. The decision to break a traffic rule should not be taken lightly and is generally illegal outside of extreme circumstances.
To ensure safety on the road and avoid highway hypnosis, it is recommended to stop for breaks frequently, approximately every two hours or when signs of fatigue appear. It’s also important to stay within the speed limits, just as experiments with traffic citations have indicated the negative consequences of not doing so. Moreover, tailgating or honking at slower drivers does not usually improve the situation as seen in the example of the young driver, Peter, and can actually lead to unsafe driving conditions.