Final answer:
Virginia law mandates the use of headlights during inclement weather when visibility is significantly reduced. Under specific emergency circumstances, rule-utilitarian ethical approaches may justify breaking a traffic law. The brightness of the Moon is generally insufficient to blind drivers significantly, and a 100Ah car battery could power two 40W headlights for a calculated duration if left on.
Step-by-step explanation:
When driving in Virginia, the law requires you to use your headlights during inclement weather such as rain, fog, snow, or sleet when visibility is reduced. The specific mandate dictates that headlights should be turned on whenever the conditions limit visibility to the extent that seeing another vehicle or the road ahead becomes challenging. It is important to comply with this regulation not only to abide by the law but also to ensure one's safety and the safety of other road users.
In situations where one might be tempted to bend traffic laws, such as when a pregnant woman is about to deliver in the backseat at 4 am with no other cars around, rational utility (RU) suggests that breaking the law in this case could yield greater utility. Such a rule-utilitarian approach may point towards crossing a red light under these specific and emergent circumstances to hasten reaching timely medical assistance, taking into account that no other traffic is being disrupted.
Regarding the claim that a driver was blinded by the Moon rising on the horizon, while the Moon is not as bright as the Sun and is unlikely to cause significant blinding to drivers, its glare under certain conditions might momentarily distract or impair a driver's vision, albeit not commonly to the extent of causing an accident. Lastly, when the driver accidentally leaves the headlights on, assuming they are two 12-V headlights each with a power rating of 40W, a fully charged 100Ah battery could theoretically power them for a period which can be calculated by dividing the total battery capacity by the combined wattage of the headlights, adjusted for the voltage.