What is the role or importance of precepts in Buddhism?

The morality is a very important for everyone in any society, by fully maintain the five precepts, we become prepared to perform good actions of many other types, and the main benefit of keeping precepts is for yourself because they prevent you from going astray.

  Precepts are voluntary mode of moral conduct that promote happiness, right livelihood, harmony oneself and society without regrets.

Practicing precepts helps to purify and concentrate the mind in meditation, and even to a heavenly rebirth.