From Seattle writer and consultant Matt Rosenberg...

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The Seattle Passive-Aggressive Tango

March 24, 2006

The following is a true story, and happens to people not infrequently in Seattle. How you handle the challenge helps determine whether you have truly assimilated to Seattle, or not.

So I've dropped the kids off at school and landed back at Rosenblog World HQ, when it hits me: I didn't drop the Netflix DVD in the mailbox. Can't put THAT off. I head back out, through the neighborhood, past the usual innumerable, unmarked four-way intersections. Yes, in Seattle, non-arterial intersections have no stop signs. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports there is no standing city rule about who goes first in such situations, but that state law provides the driver on the right has precedence. Since most drivers are unaware of this and can't page through their dashboard copy of the Revised Code of Washington in time - it's basically first come, first served.

But what happens when two cars bear down on a Seattle neighborhoood interection at the same time? Why, you get the Seattle passive-aggressive tango, that's what. Some might call it a Mexican Standoff, but I don't know if the P.C. Police allow that term any more. The basic idea is to slam your brakes and then stubbornly sit until the other guy goes. The point being that as a true Seattle-ite, YOU'RE not in a hurry, but the OTHER guy, most likely some over-caffeinated refugee from Southern California, obviously IS. You'll just calmly wait because frankly, you're really quite a bit more considerate than he.

Well, today I thought, for just a hot minute there, that I had met my match. The other guy wouldn't budge. Twenty seconds, thirty seconds, he's staying put. I ask myself, what kind of obstinate dork is this? He gestures for me to go. That did it. I put on the emergency brake, look at my watch, and jam in a cassette, which in a nice twist of fate, is all cued up to one of my favorite rock tunes, Fleetwood Mac's "Tell Me All The Things You Do," from their classic 1970 album "Kiln House." (This was when the group had begun the journey from hardcore 60s blues band into blues-rock-pop, but with some bite, as opposed to their later, more insipid and popular stuff).

Because I figure I've got some serious time to pass, I'm sitting there bopping my head to the surgically precise twin guitars of Danny Kirwan and Jeremy Spencer - and just beginning what promises to be an instructive reverie about the great Peter Green's long strange trip away from the orginal Fleetwood Mac, into a mental institution and finally back into music. My wife, bless her, isn't in the car, and there's no traffic behind me because I'm on a quiet residential street, so I can really get away with this. Just when I'm getting all settled in for a real wait-out duel, the guy chickens out, and drives on.

"Poseur, amateur," I gleefully bellow (windows closed, not moving my lips a lot).

No one is more considerate than me, dammit!

Even if I was the one on the right.

TECHNORATI TAGS:

Comments:

*falls off his chair and rolls around on the floor in hysterical laughter*

Way to go Matt!

Posted by: Nathan Azinger at March 24, 2006 11:45 AM

Actually, the vehicle on the right has the right of way. The other driver was correct to yield to you.

"RCW 46.61.180
Vehicle approaching intersection.

(1) When two vehicles approach or enter an intersection from different highways at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right of way to the vehicle on the right.
(2) The right of way rule declared in subsection (1) of this section is modified at arterial highways and otherwise as stated in this chapter."

Additionally, in the Washington Rules of the Road pamphlet (available at your local DOL or at http://www.dol.wa.gov/ds/Guide2005.pdf) says (pg 40):

"At an intersection where there is no stop sign, yield sign, or traffic signal, drivers must yield to vehicles in the intersection and to those coming from the right."

I'd recommend keeping a copy of the pamphlet in your car. Dry reading, but important information to know.

Posted by: DP at March 24, 2006 11:18 PM

I miss all that now that I'm living in a small sleepy town in the only county in the state without a traffic light.

and by the way... from the WA Traffic Guide: "At an intersection where there is no stop sign, yield
sign, or traffic signal, drivers must yield to vehicles in the intersection and to those coming from the right." It must be in Seattle where lefties go first.

Posted by: john Gordon at March 25, 2006 07:35 AM

Only in Seattle would the LEFT have the right of way. The rule is the guy on the RIGHT has the right of way.

Posted by: Mike S at March 25, 2006 09:38 AM

That's the way we do it!

Posted by: Patrick at March 25, 2006 04:28 PM

Thanks DP, John G., & Mike. I have corrected the right-of-way info. I misread the linked-to article, which had the info right, er, correctly.

Still, I'm betting that even when I do have the right of way, that unless the other driver comes to a nice clean stop - as opposed to jamming on his brakes at the last minute - I'm likely to revert to my "if you're in that much of a hurry, YOU go ahead" strategy.

Posted by: Matt R. at March 25, 2006 08:08 PM

My father's favorite traffic motto remains:
I don't care who's first or second, just so long as there's not a tie.

Posted by: mark at March 26, 2006 07:02 PM

Those barrels must be full now. Those are the ones, painted bright blue, stenciled carefull, with, "WHEN TRAVELING WITHIN SEATTLE CITY LIMITS, IT'S APPROPRIATE TO LEAVE THE REMAINS OF YOUR BRAINS HERE." Time for more barrels.

Posted by: QG at March 27, 2006 09:59 AM
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