Final answer:
During adverse weather conditions, motorists must adapt their driving behavior, turn on their headlights, and observe safety laws for the well-being of all road users, though occasionally exceptions may be made in emergent, life-threatening situations.
Step-by-step explanation:
During daylight hours when conditions such as rain, snow, or ice are present, motorists are typically required by law to take certain safety precautions to ensure not only their own safety but also the safety of others on the road. These safety precautions can include reducing speed, maintaining a greater following distance, and yes, turning on the headlights of your car. Turning on headlights increases visibility for the driver and makes the vehicle more visible to other road users.
This is akin to when a river is swollen due to heavy rains; it is advisable to wait until the river subsides before attempting to cross it for safety reasons. Similarly, when you observe that the weather conditions have changed, such as when exiting a movie theater and noticing wet streets, the inference that rain has occurred is reasonable.
These practical examples illustrate the critical need for motorists to be aware of and react appropriately to changing weather conditions for the safety of all. In extreme circumstances, such as when a vehicle contains a pregnant woman in labor and is en route to a hospital, breaking certain traffic laws like running a red light at 4 am when no other cars are present might be considered more ethically and morally justifiable under the utilitarian principle of achieving the greatest good (or utility). However, such decisions should not be taken lightly and are context-dependent.