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
The bill would keep a ban in effect until late 2027; enough time, Sachs hopes, for state energy and environmental regulators to design rules of the road for large data centers, which need vast amounts of energy to power artificial intelligence and other computing.
—
Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2026
That means many rules of the road for cars also apply to equines.
—Nick Sullivan
april 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
Washington is now ground zero for an advocacy battle over how to write the rules of the road for a nascent technology that promises to reshape everything from education and health care to war-fighting.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
In an Instagram video explaining the encounter, Fetzer says that there were two cars harassing him and his friend, despite their position in the bike lane and following the rules of the road.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rule of the road
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Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2026
That means many rules of the road for cars also apply to equines.
—Nick Sullivan
april 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
Washington is now ground zero for an advocacy battle over how to write the rules of the road for a nascent technology that promises to reshape everything from education and health care to war-fighting.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
In an Instagram video explaining the encounter, Fetzer says that there were two cars harassing him and his friend, despite their position in the bike lane and following the rules of the road.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
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 Apr. 2026.
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