Legal Definitions - boulevard rule

The boulevard rule is a legal principle in traffic law that dictates how drivers must behave when entering a main road from a less significant one. It states that a driver approaching a major highway or thoroughfare from a smaller street, private driveway, or access road must come to a complete stop and yield the right-of-way to all vehicles already traveling on the main road. This rule is designed to ensure the smooth and safe flow of traffic on busier routes by prioritizing vehicles already in motion on those roads.

Here are some examples to illustrate the boulevard rule:

• Example 1: Exiting a Residential Street onto a Main Avenue

  Imagine a driver, Sarah, is leaving her quiet residential street to turn left onto a busy four-lane avenue. Even if there isn't a stop sign explicitly posted at her intersection, the boulevard rule requires Sarah to stop her vehicle before entering the avenue. She must then wait for a safe and clear gap in traffic from both directions on the avenue before she can proceed with her turn. This illustrates the rule because the residential street is considered the "smaller road," and the bustling avenue is the "highway," meaning Sarah must yield to all traffic already on the main thoroughfare.

• Example 2: Leaving a Parking Lot onto a Commercial Road

  Consider a delivery truck driver, Mark, who is exiting a large shopping center parking lot onto a bustling commercial road lined with shops and restaurants. As Mark approaches the exit, he sees cars continuously passing by on the commercial road. Under the boulevard rule, Mark must bring his truck to a complete stop at the edge of the parking lot exit. He cannot pull out until he is certain that there is no oncoming traffic on the commercial road that would require other drivers to slow down or swerve to avoid him. The parking lot exit serves as the "smaller road," and the commercial road is the "highway," obligating Mark to yield.

• Example 3: Entering a State Highway from a Rural Lane

  Picture a farmer, David, driving his tractor from a narrow, unpaved farm lane directly onto a paved state highway. The farm lane is rarely used, while the state highway carries significant traffic. When David reaches the junction, the boulevard rule mandates that he stop his tractor completely. He must then carefully check for traffic approaching from both directions on the state highway, ensuring the road is entirely clear before slowly pulling his tractor onto the highway. Here, the farm lane is the "smaller road," and the state highway is the "highway," requiring David to yield to all traffic on the main road.