What is the primary purpose of traffic laws?

The primary purpose of traffic laws is to regulate road user behavior and ensure safety. These laws are designed to promote safe driving practices, establish clear guidelines for all road users—drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists—and minimize the risk of accidents. By setting rules regarding speed limits, right-of-way, signaling, and other behaviors, traffic laws help create a predictable and organized environment on the roads, which is essential for preventing collisions and enhancing overall safety for everyone.

While generating revenue can sometimes be a byproduct of traffic enforcement, it is not the primary aim of these laws. Moreover, although controlling traffic speed is an important aspect of traffic management, it does not encompass the full range of regulations and behaviors that traffic laws govern. Lastly, while traffic laws strive to reduce accidents, it is unrealistic to expect that they can eliminate all accidents entirely, as human factors and unpredictable circumstances can still lead to incidents.