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
Follow the rules of the road—and stay off your phone - Stick to speed limits, obey traffic signals, and never drive distracted.
—
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
Maybe he would be well served to write his 10-page dissertation on the multitude of reasons that bicycles need to stop for red lights, stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, and follow the same rules of the road that apply to motor vehicles, which are required for bicyclists.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2025
Trump’s destruction of global trade norms means that the world will need to rewrite the rules of the road almost from scratch.
—Justin Worland, Time, 30 Apr. 2025
Over the last few months, crypto trade groups and companies have published key principles to help inform the rules of the road.
—Cleve Mesidor, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rule of the road
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
Maybe he would be well served to write his 10-page dissertation on the multitude of reasons that bicycles need to stop for red lights, stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, and follow the same rules of the road that apply to motor vehicles, which are required for bicyclists.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2025
Trump’s destruction of global trade norms means that the world will need to rewrite the rules of the road almost from scratch.
—Justin Worland, Time, 30 Apr. 2025
Over the last few months, crypto trade groups and companies have published key principles to help inform the rules of the road.
—Cleve Mesidor, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rule of the road
Cite this Entry
“Rule of the road.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rule%20of%20the%20road. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share