Who yields on a narrow two-lane road? Answer involves chicken

You go first — no you go first…

Street Smarts reader Julie Hanner, of Marysville, asks: “When driving down a crowded street… who has the right of way when only one car will fit?”

On narrow neighborhood streets, it can be a tight fit for two vehicles with cars parked on both sides. She pointed to Grand Avenue in north Everett as an example.

Everett police officer Aaron Snell notes there’s a state law for the technical answer.

In RCW 46.61.105, it states “each driver shall give to the other at least one-half of the main-traveled portion of the roadway as nearly as possible.”

“Essentially, the law is stating that drivers must exercise courtesy and both drivers could be at fault in the event of a collision,” Snell said. “Aside from criminal cases, collisions are civil in nature with insurance companies determining fault and financial matters.”

So, it’s basically a polite game of chicken?

“Essentially — with pretty expensive consequences,” he said.

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