It used to be the custom in Australia to avoid, where possible, cutting into a line of cars in a funeral procession. That has largely gone by the wayside because people have become a lot more impatient with such niceties but also because it’s now no longer really possible to know which cars are actually part of the procession. Headlights on used to automatically mean ‘give way to this car because it’s part of the procession’ but no longer seems to be the case.
We use the hazard lights in the States. Blinking hazard lights mean you are part of the processional and I know at least here in the South you usually have at least one police officer, if not two or more, specially assigned to ride along on motorcycles with flashing lights stopping traffic at intersections and directing the procession to the proper destination.
Thank you for the link - I hadn’t heard of money in a card like that. I see responses are split in the thread, I don’t feel **so **foolish.
Growing up in Michigan I didn’t see it; my mom’s from Kentucky and it was the norm for her to the point she nearly got run down the first time she pulled over for one when she moved to Michigan. We saw it as well when we went to funerals in Kentucky.
I had a police officer wag his finger at me in Indiana for not pulling my car over as a funeral procession passed. I had never seen it before, having just moved there from Chicago where it’s not done at all, or at least never when I was growing up. None of my relatives who still live there have ever seen it either, and were surprised when I told them about it.
This would never work here. For one thing, I don’t believe the police would be prepared to work as private contractors and for another, there must be hundreds of funerals per day.
I think it’s an offence to use hazard lights when there’s no hazard.
MD here.
I have never pulled over for a funeral procession no matter what side of the road they are on. I’ve never seen it done.
The only time I have ever gotten into the middle of one is if they are on the highway and I have to cut through for my exit. If I know it’s a procession and my exit is close I will get behind them but sometimes you don’t know until it’s too late.
Huh. I grew up in the 80s around the suburban Detroit area, and would come across one quite often. I’ve been in a few chains of the procession as well. It was always an interesting experience, as dozens and dozens of cars follow each other through red lights, as the on-lookers in their vehicles would wait. Some on-lookers would beep their horns in honor of the deceased.
The hearse would also give each driver an orange, magnetic flag to stick to the roof of their vehicle.
But, now that you mention it, I haven’t seen one in years. Wonder if the State put the kibosh on that?
