rule of the road

noun phrase

: a customary practice (such as driving always on a particular side of the road or yielding the right of way) developed in the interest of safety and often subsequently reinforced by law
especially : any of the rules making up a code governing ships in matters relating to mutual safety

Examples of rule of the road in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Parents and children can visit the park to learn the rules of the road, California Office of Traffic Safety Director Stephanie Dougherty said. Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 16 May 2026 Amid onlookers, the two were filmed confronting each other after the cyclist accused Cumberbatch of breaking the rules of the road by running red lights. Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026 The rules of the road are being rewritten, and they are being rewritten in Beijing. Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 10 May 2026 That is set to change later this year, as the California Department of Motor Vehicles announced on April 29 that law enforcement agencies will now be allowed to issue tickets to autonomous vehicle companies for violations of the rules of the road. Noe Padilla, USA Today, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for rule of the road

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rule of the road was in 1798

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Cite this Entry

“Rule of the road.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rule%20of%20the%20road. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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