Funeral processions

[hbelkins]

Every now and then, the subject of funeral processions comes up.

Saw this story in the Lexington Herald-Leader today:

https://www.kentucky.com/news/state/kentucky/article272895835.html#wgt=trending

You should be able to view the story free of charge. The H-L is behind a paywall but I get around it by blocking cookies in my laptop browser.

It does not address the issue of oncoming motorists stopping for funeral processions, either as a legal requirement or as a show of respect.

[SectorZ]

I will say that a potential 90-day jail sentence for interrupting one in Kentucky may be a bit much, unless you make it a daily habit or something.

[SEWIGuy]

I have been in a couple of them, but its been at least 20 years. I can't remember the last time I even saw one.

[kphoger]

I was once flipped off and yelled at for not stopping when a funeral procession went by in the opposite direction in a rural area.

[1995hoo]

So, hypothetically, if you're going in the same direction as the funeral procession on a multilane arterial street, you may not pass any vehicle in the procession, but you can match your speed to theirs and drive next to them, perhaps by using your cruise control so that you don't pass.

[vdeane]

What happens if it's raining?  Or does Kentucky not require all vehicles to have their headlights on in the rain?

Here in NY, the custom is for vehicles to have their flashers on.

[jeffandnicole]

I will say that a potential 90-day jail sentence for interrupting one in Kentucky may be a bit much, unless you make it a daily habit or something.

Many laws have harsh penalties that will never be inflicted on those found guilty. Even a basic minor speeding offense often has a 10 or 15 day jail sentence that could be given to someone found guilty. Obviously, that never happens.

What happens if it's raining?  Or does Kentucky not require all vehicles to have their headlights on in the rain?

Here in NY, the custom is for vehicles to have their flashers on.

Nothing says someone can't use headlights near a funeral procession...they just can't use them for the purpose of joining the procession when they're not part of it.

[kphoger]

Nothing says someone can't use headlights near a funeral procession...they just can't use them for the purpose of joining the procession when they're not part of it.

Or for proceeding through an intersection without properly yielding in general.

[Troubleshooter]

I called the state police (Indiana) to find out what the rules are.

- If the hearse or the vehicle in front of it has the regular flashing lights of a police car, then you must stop and stay until the procession passes.

- If there are not police flashing lights, thew hearse must obey all traffic laws, and the following vehicles are considered to be an extension of the hearse (I once drove a hearse under these conditions because I was the only person present who could drive and knew where the cemetery was).

- If there are not police flashing lights, if you are going in a direction that does not interfere with the procession, you stop while the hearse is passing and then you can go. You must not do anything to cause any car in the procession to stop or deviate.

There is a special rule if a train, drawbridge, or emergency vehicle interrupts the procession. The leading part of the procession stops clear of the interruption, and then waits for the trailing part to resume. This is because many drivers in the procession are foreign to the area and may not know where the cemetery is.

[kphoger]

I called the state police (Indiana) to find out what the rules are.

FYI, the police are not always a reliable source of information when it comes to what the law actually says.  If you send an e-mail, then it at least gives them time to research it.  But if you call, then the person on the other end may just give you what he or she thinks the law says.

[1995hoo]

I recall in New York, in the days before E-ZPass, my grandmother's funeral procession went over the Cross Bay Bridge. The hearse driver paid the toll for all the vehicles in the procession and the tolltaker waved the other vehicles through and was counting to make sure nobody else snuck through.

[Scott5114]

I am opposed to funeral processions getting any sort of special legal treatment that any other procession of cars traveling together wouldn't get.

[LilianaUwU]

I am opposed to funeral processions getting any sort of special legal treatment that any other procession of cars traveling together wouldn't get.

Ditto. If I can't blow through red lights and stop signs, then why can they? I don't want more deaths to happen because of dangerous funeral processions.

Speaking of which, here's a related video on the subject from the same guy behind the AVGN:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHV_5fEu3ug

[Roadgeekteen]

When I die I do not want tons of cars blocking traffic in my honor

[Bruce]

I am opposed to funeral processions getting any sort of special legal treatment that any other procession of cars traveling together wouldn't get.

Same. If they wanted to get to the same destination at the same time, then just get in the same vehicles.

I will make an exception for those heading for a human compost facility, because that's more novel.

[Scott5114]

I am opposed to funeral processions getting any sort of special legal treatment that any other procession of cars traveling together wouldn't get.

Same. If they wanted to get to the same destination at the same time, then just get in the same vehicles.

Now I'm just imagining a school bus with the back few rows of seats taken out to leave room for the coffin.

[kalvado]

When I die I do not want tons of cars blocking traffic in my honor

You're fairly optimistic if you expect enough people to show up so that there are tons of cars.

[kphoger]

Most people don't even know how to get to the graveyard, let alone how to navigate the maze of one-lane roads inside the graveyard if it's a big one.  I've been in a funeral procession a few times, and one of those went into another county, while another transited halfway across a major metropolitan area.  Without the police escort, most of us would have gotten lost–at a time of higher-than-usual emotions.  So I guess I'm saying I'm not against funeral processions.  I'm just against anyone who isn't cross-traffic having to stop for them:  they aren't fire trucks, after all.

[hbelkins]

What happens if it's raining?  Or does Kentucky not require all vehicles to have their headlights on in the rain?

We have no such requirement here. Drivers are not required to burn headlights (a little North Carolina lingo there) when it is raining.

[7/8]

Here's a 2019 article discussing funeral processions in Canada:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/mobility/article-do-i-need-to-pull-over-for-a-funeral-procession/

For Ontario:

In Ontario, funeral processions don't get any special exemptions to traffic laws.

"Purple flashing lights are "courtesy lights"  in that they have no special privileges associated with their use other than the hope that other motorists will give them the right of way,"  said Courtney Anderson, spokeswoman for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) in an e-mail.

In the age of Google Maps, the idea seems outdated. Is it not possible to meet near the entrance of the graveyard and guide people from there?

To be fair, I've never done one myself. Every funeral I've been to, there was a ceremony at the funeral home and that was it (I think because in each case they were cremated).

[kphoger]

In the age of Google Maps, the idea seems outdated. Is it not possible to meet near the entrance of the graveyard and guide people from there?

You seem to think everybody drives around with a sat-nav device.

[Rothman]

In the age of Google Maps, the idea seems outdated. Is it not possible to meet near the entrance of the graveyard and guide people from there?

You seem to think everybody drives around with a sat-nav device.

Well, a cell phone, anyway...

[kphoger]

In the age of Google Maps, the idea seems outdated. Is it not possible to meet near the entrance of the graveyard and guide people from there?

You seem to think everybody drives around with a sat-nav device.

Well, a cell phone, anyway...

And a dashboard mount?  You realize, right, that using your phone for GPS directions falls under the category of cell phone use while driving in some jurisdictions?

Besides which, this is all pretending that everyone has a smartphone, which they don't.  I don't.  And also that the 84-year-old cousin of the deceased is tech-savvy enough to use Google Maps for directions on the iPhone that her son got for her against her will three weeks ago, and capable of doing so while navigating unfamiliar traffic in the rental car she picked up at the airport.

Here is one 19-mile route I've done as part of a funeral procession.  This was approximately 700 miles from my hometown of Wichita.  I'd been to the town of Buffalo before, but I didn't know what county roads in the area were paved, I'd never been through Maple Lake at all, and I had never approached that side of Buffalo from the west before.  There were quite a few people in attendance with even less knowledge of the area than I had, having come into town for the funeral from places like Montana and Missouri and the Twin Cities.  The roads were snowy and slushy that day.  It was such a relief to just be able to follow the car in front of us, especially pulling out onto MN-55 and going through the stoplights in town.

[kalvado]

Most people don't even know how to get to the graveyard, let alone how to navigate the maze of one-lane roads inside the graveyard if it's a big one.  I've been in a funeral procession a few times, and one of those went into another county, while another transited halfway across a major metropolitan area.  Without the police escort, most of us would have gotten lost–at a time of higher-than-usual emotions.  So I guess I'm saying I'm not against funeral processions.  I'm just against anyone who isn't cross-traffic having to stop for them:  they aren't fire trucks, after all.

In NY funeral processions are allowed to disregard red traffic lights. Not really a big deal for 5 cars IMHO.
Once upon a time I got stuck literally in the middle of intersection trying to turn left when light switched, as oncoming looong procession got stalled (20+ cars at least, but maybe 50+). Thanks to a lady who pulled back a bit and let me through....

[catch22]

When my sister (who had a wickedly dry sense of humor) passed a few years ago, she left a short list of things she wanted as part of her funeral service.  Number one on the list was "No funeral procession.  These dangerous things were invented by funeral directors solely to drum up more business for themselves. ."

So, I made up maps for the trips between the funeral home, church, and cemetery, and had copies made for everyone.  Nobody got lost or had their car t-boned by someone not paying attention at an intersection.  And we all got to the cemetery before the hearse did.