rules of the road

rules of the road pl (plural only)

1. The laws that govern driving, especially of motorists and cyclists.
2. (figuratively) A set of standard procedures or regulations governing the way something is done.
   • 2005, Flynt Leverett, The Road Ahead: Middle East Policy in the Bush Administration's Second Term, page 105:

     A regional security framework with a relatively broad mandate could also establish badly needed "rules of the road" for regional states in a post-Saddam environment, which would be highly valued by the Saudis.

   • 2012, Susan Stabler-Haas, Fast Facts for the Student Nurse:

     That clinical instructor will begin the course by giving you an “orientation day.” Pay attention! You need to know the rules of the road for each instructor and each clinical facility.

   • 2013, Carl Frankel, Allen Bromberger, The Art of Social Enterprise: Business as if People Mattered, page 8:

     As it's evolved, the for-profit organizational form rewards short-term thinking and a profits-first, social-and-environmental-damage-be-damned attitude. While this is especially true at the global corporate level, the rules of the road for small businesses aren't much better.

• (the laws that govern driving): Highway Code (UK)

• rule of the road