Why Traffic Rules Exist in the First Place
Last reviewed: 2026 · Driviology Road Safety Education Team
Quick Answer
Traffic rules exist to create shared, predictable expectations among everyone using the road, since without them there would be no reliable way to know what another driver is about to do.
Before getting into any specific regulation, it helps to step back and ask why traffic rules exist as a concept at all.
Creating Shared Predictability
Without agreed-upon rules, there would be no reliable way to know what another driver is about to do, making every interaction on the road far riskier.
How This Differs From Ontario-Specific Regulation
The general concept here applies universally, while the specific details in our guide to Ontario’s regulatory framework cover how that concept is actually implemented locally.
Where the Full Rules Live
The complete, current set of rules is found in the official MTO handbook, rather than any general explanation of why rules exist.