Funeral Processions

[bcla]

I think it depends on region, on rural/suburban/urban, depends on the type of road and safety.

I rarely see anymore when I am out. And other than my in-laws have not been to a funeral that had a public procession to the cemetery in decade maybe, and most funerals have been memorials without the deceased present. With cremation on the rise I think we'll see it less and less from the average person.

Cremains can be buried. But I haven’t heard of a burial right after a funeral where a procession occur.

 

[bcla]

Here they usually have off-duty police escorts so they can get through lights without stopping or being seperated. We don't use the little flags, which I hand't seen until recently when I was up north - there was no police escort. It used to be that everyone kept their headlights on, but since most cars hae daytime running lights now, they use their hazard lights. Anyway, I've never been taught to stop unless you were going to be impeding the procession or directed to by an escorting officer.

Apparently in parts of Canada there’s a requirement for purple flags attached to the windows that say FUNERAL. Maybe.

The ones I’ve seen in California have FUNERAL signs taped to the windows. I don’t believe there’s any law that requires it, but apparently a lot of funeral homes hand them out to mark vehicles in a procession.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I was a part of a funeral procession this past Tuesday. After leaving the church, where the service was, the lead car, entered the expressway, because it was a quicker route to the cemetery. I don’t remember ever being in a funeral procession on the expressway but it was crazy! You had outside people entering the expressway and ending up a part of the procession line! Most figured that out and changed lanes to get out of the procession but for those following the cars to the cemetery it could have caused some to lose sight of where they were suppose to go! (This is in Ohio and all cars in a funeral procession have a funeral flag attached to them)

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I was a part of a funeral procession this past Tuesday. After leaving the church, where the service was, the lead car, entered the expressway, because it was a quicker route to the cemetery. I don’t remember ever being in a funeral procession on the expressway but it was crazy! You had outside people entering the expressway and ending up a part of the procession line! Most figured that out and changed lanes to get out of the procession but for those following the cars to the cemetery it could have caused some to lose sight of where they were suppose to go! (This is in Ohio and all cars in a funeral procession have a funeral flag attached to them)

Yeah one of the reasons they shouldn't go on the highway even if it was quicker. Last thing you want is to have another death inadvertently due to an accident caused by that. That's why when there are grand big huge funeral processions for people like first responders they can shut down highways or have high police presence that blocks out traffic behind it so as to not create a mixture. If I were you I would pass along feedback to that church or whomever was in charge of the route, that was very dangerous of them to do that when there were alternatives.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I've not seen opposite side of traffic stop for funeral processions, that would cause quite the traffic issue and safety hazards. Same direction as you different story but not the other side of the street. People have paid attention to things like turning but not coming to a full stop for opposite side.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Out of respect you stop and wait.
Since most no longer have an escort I have accidentally been caught up in it a couple of times.

 

[Bethislucy]

If I'm in my local area I stop as do most people here but, I'm driving in another state/area I do what others around me are doing.

 

[kyton]

Funeral processions for “everyday” people aren’t really a thing in Australia. If we are the opposite lane then we don’t do anything. If we are in the same direction of traffic, most fellow drivers will move aside for a hearse and tend to hang back so if there are other cars travelling with them, they can stay together. But I can’t remember either when I got my licence or when my two eldest just got their licences and completed their 120hrs of training any specific regulations being issued.

If the funeral is for a well known person / politician / any form of forces and involves a procession, the police would be the ones to direct the traffic flow.

 

[SteveH]

While living in Missouri we turned our headlights on and came to a stop, if possible. If it was a veteran, and we knew it, we got out of our car and stood and showed respect. Having my business on the way to one of the largest cemeteries in town meant it happened a lot. Even once we left I still do the same thing.

 

[bcla]

If the funeral is for a well known person / politician / any form of forces and involves a procession, the police would be the ones to direct the traffic flow.

That can be requested in most parts of the United States for pretty much any funeral. The police would be legally off duty and paid as another funeral expense. Many police/sheriff/etc are hesitant to do so. But here’s an application for one agency. It can get complicated when a funeral crosses jurisdiction. An example would be funeral homes in San Francisco, which has no cemeteries other than one small military cemetery that’s full. There’s a town called Colma that is mostly cemetery lands and a procession would typically cross several different jurisdictions. Makes it a lot harder because each city/county may need to approve it.

https://www.modestogov.com/DocumentCenter/View/145/Funeral-Escort-Application-PDF

 

[disneychrista]

If we are talking about cross traffic, I would wait for the procession to pass before attempting to coming through the intersection. If we are talking just driving the opposite direction, I would (procession heading south, me heading north) I would just continue driving as normal.

No clue what the rule is, I don't think this was ever taught in drivers ed.

 

[tvguy]

Yeah one of the reasons they shouldn't go on the highway even if it was quicker. Last thing you want is to have another death inadvertently due to an accident caused by that. That's why when there are grand big huge funeral processions for people like first responders they can shut down highways or have high police presence that blocks out traffic behind it so as to not create a mixture. If I were you I would pass along feedback to that church or whomever was in charge of the route, that was very dangerous of them to do that when there were alternatives.

I think most communities want the most direct route used, with freeways actually preferred. No traffic lights to deal with, and the motorcycle escorts leap frog ahead to close down onramps. Funeral procession stays in the slow lane, allowing traffic to pass in the other lanes. Of course, they are supposed to be during during non-peak traffic times, which is which is why so many funerals are scheduled between 11 am and 2 pm.

 

[tvguy]

That can be requested in most parts of the United States for pretty much any funeral. The police would be legally off duty and paid as another funeral expense. Many police/sheriff/etc are hesitant to do so. But here’s an application for one agency. It can get complicated when a funeral crosses jurisdiction. An example would be funeral homes in San Francisco, which has no cemeteries other than one small military cemetery that’s full. There’s a town called Colma that is mostly cemetery lands and a procession would typically cross several different jurisdictions. Makes it a lot harder because each city/county may need to approve it.

https://www.modestogov.com/DocumentCenter/View/145/Funeral-Escort-Application-PDF

Yup. Graves from San Francisco were moved to Coloma decades ago. My Grandparents are interred there, and my wife and I will be. My parents are interred 4 miles down El Camino Real in San Bruno. No processions for my parents.....nor will there be for my wife and I. No idea if there was a procession, but it was over 100 years ago.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I think most communities want the most direct route used, with freeways actually preferred. No traffic lights to deal with, and the motorcycle escorts leap frog ahead to close down onramps. Funeral procession stays in the slow lane, allowing traffic to pass in the other lanes. Of course, they are supposed to be during during non-peak traffic times, which is which is why so many funerals are scheduled between 11 am and 2 pm.

Uh no going at 65-70mph on the highway (in truth add 5-15mph more than that if you're talking about the normal speeds of drivers around here) with cars coming on and off and literally having no way of keeping everyone together, nope. There isn't really a slow lane when you have entrances and exits all the time and you shouldn't be using other lanes either especially as you cannot safely get everyone moved back over to the exit/entrance lane if you have enough cars. It's just all around a dangerous and confusing situation for all the drivers out there, it's no surprise for the PP that other cars got mixed up in the procession. And for the PP that was the first time they were in one. My husband saw one on the highway by our house a 2-lane each side one (which is starting to get really bad traffic and bad aggressive driving) and that was the only one he's ever seen on any highway around here. It was by police escort which is a totally different thing, it was still dangerous overall. As far as funerals scheduled I don't know about you but that has no affect on the traffic patterns on the highway here. I'm not going to debate this but it is not the preferred nor normal way of doing it in the communities around here (outside of first responders and the like where they can have entire police departments out on the highways essentially shutting it down) thank goodness because I can only image how easily an accident could occur.

 

[bcla]

That can be requested in most parts of the United States for pretty much any funeral. The police would be legally off duty and paid as another funeral expense. Many police/sheriff/etc are hesitant to do so. But here’s an application for one agency. It can get complicated when a funeral crosses jurisdiction. An example would be funeral homes in San Francisco, which has no cemeteries other than one small military cemetery that’s full. There’s a town called Colma that is mostly cemetery lands and a procession would typically cross several different jurisdictions. Makes it a lot harder because each city/county may need to approve it.

https://www.modestogov.com/DocumentCenter/View/145/Funeral-Escort-Application-PDF

Had a better look at it, and that's just the application to operate a funeral escort business. But I'm sure there's got to be some police or sheriff agency that will provide escorts for a fee. I can't find anything public about it other than procedures for fallen/former law enforcement officer funerals. It's probably something that has to be asked.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I haven't seen an traditional funeral procession in years. Lately, it seems like everyone is given the address of the cemetery and instructed to meet there after the service.

The last time I was in a formal funeral procession was 25 years ago for my uncle who was a retired Chief of Police. The cemetery was was about 5 miles from the church. We had several police escorts with lights on. There were officers on motorcycles rushing ahead to stop traffic at intersections so the entire procession could get through together. There were officers from different agencies standing on corners, saluting the hearse as it went by. It was quite a spectacle, but well-deserved for a public official who worked hard and was well-respected by his city.

 

[tvguy]

Uh no going at 65-70mph on the highway (in truth add 5-15mph more than that if you're talking about the normal speeds of drivers around here) with cars coming on and off and literally having no way of keeping everyone together, nope. There isn't really a slow lane when you have entrances and exits all the time and you shouldn't be using other lanes either especially as you cannot safely get everyone moved back over to the exit/entrance lane if you have enough cars. It's just all around a dangerous and confusing situation for all the drivers out there, it's no surprise for the PP that other cars got mixed up in the procession. And for the PP that was the first time they were in one. My husband saw one on the highway by our house a 2-lane each side one (which is starting to get really bad traffic and bad aggressive driving) and that was the only one he's ever seen on any highway around here. It was by police escort which is a totally different thing, it was still dangerous overall. As far as funerals scheduled I don't know about you but that has no affect on the traffic patterns on the highway here. I'm not going to debate this but it is not the preferred nor normal way of doing it in the communities around here (outside of first responders and the like where they can have entire police departments out on the highways essentially shutting it down) thank goodness because I can only image how easily an accident could occur.

I'm not qualified to defend the practice. I am just saying it is the practice.

 

[bcla]

Yup. Graves from San Francisco were moved to Coloma decades ago. My Grandparents are interred there, and my wife and I will be. My parents are interred 4 miles down El Camino Real in San Bruno. No processions for my parents.....nor will there be for my wife and I. No idea if there was a procession, but it was over 100 years ago.

Found something claiming that 73% of Colma is zoned for cemeteries. The rest is mostly retail and industrial. And a (living) population of less than 2000.

The other big cemetery in the area is Golden Gate National Cemetery, but that's in San Bruno.

 

[tvguy]

Found something claiming that 73% of Colma is zoned for cemeteries. The rest is mostly retail and industrial. And a (living) population of less than 2000.

The other big cemetery in the area is Golden Gate National Cemetery, but that's in San Bruno.

Yup, Golden Gate National Cemetery is where my parents are. 4 miles from Colma.

 

[Turn the Page]

#3. I don't care about state or federal rule; I would do it under respect.

That's a nice idea and all but if you are impeding traffic that could cause problems.