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Well in the 3 I've seen (in fact, all I've seen in my life that I can remember) have had no police involvement. It also doesn't help that no one is told that they get these special rules. Such as college kids crossing the street when the hand says go. Almost got hit because the guy wouldn't even hit the brakes.

stitch626 wrote:Well in the 3 I've seen (in fact, all I've seen in my life that I can remember) have had no police involvement. It also doesn't help that no one is told that they get these special rules. Such as college kids crossing the street when the hand says go. Almost got hit because the guy wouldn't even hit the brakes.

Well that seems to be bad judgment all around I'd say.

Lighthawk wrote:

stitch626 wrote:Well in the 3 I've seen (in fact, all I've seen in my life that I can remember) have had no police involvement. It also doesn't help that no one is told that they get these special rules. Such as college kids crossing the street when the hand says go. Almost got hit because the guy wouldn't even hit the brakes.

Well that seems to be bad judgment all around I'd say.

Dude... These are people we're talking about, remember?

By me, cars in funeral processions have to obey traffic laws. That said, most cops will turn a blind eye if a couple cars slip through a red light in order to keep up.

I wonder if they'd let 22 cars go...


Sorry, this is one area that gets to me. I don't like it when anyone slides through traffic laws (well, most of them anyway, parking laws are a different story).

Today's rant: friggin' carpenter bees. I know they don't sting; but they're the size of Cessnas, and pretty damned aggressive for things that have no real mechanism of attack. Try doing yardwork with a fleet of Lear jets constantly diving at you.

The only funeral procession I've been in (I'm not small, being in the back seat of a Ford Galaxy is NOT comfortable), they had to obey traffic laws. All four cars (Hurse, Limo for relatives, my uncle's Galaxy and a friend of the deceased from the Bowls club he was part of in a Mitsubishi space wagon) just stuck together. other drivers let them pass because they were part of the funeral procession, but thats the only courtesy they got. And they could go over those ridiculous flat mini-roundabout things.

Lighthawk wrote:It's not really that likely. The procession doesn't go speeding down the streets or anything. I've been in three, and I don't think any of them went over 30 mph.

That statement gives the impression that you've never seen the damage a collision at 30 mph can do.

And as I said, police involvement is pretty common, usually with them moving ahead of the procession to block off intersections just prior to the hearse reaching them.

Why? As I said, this is a funeral procession. A big deal for those involved, but not for the rest of the planet. As Reliant points out it's common courtesy to give the procession right of way, but that's all it is - if a hearse comes to a red light I expect it to stop, just as I would any other vehicle. Including those fuckers who think a red light means "stop, unless you're a cyclist", but that's another rant

Maybe, but they're not "ignoring the rules of the road", they're being given a pass to ignore a few rules under specific conditions.

"They're not ignoring the rules of the road, they're ignoring the rules of the road." I assume you didn't proof read that sentence to realise how stupid it sounds. The fact that the local council is stupid enough to declare said exemption does not change the fact that it's dangerous.

Also keep in mind, this is going to be a very emotional and stressful time for some. Keeping it simple as "follow this line of cars" is probably a good thing for some.

Bereavement is not an excuse for bad driving, nor is it a reason to declare someone exempt from following the rules of the road.

Captain Seafort wrote:That statement gives the impression that you've never seen the damage a collision at 30 mph can do.

Or it gives the impression that the hearse doesn't rev up to the red line, throw out the clutch, and speed off in a plume of smoke, leaving a patch of molten rubber in the funeral home parking lot, and go blazing down the streets at 90+ mph, weaving madly in and out of traffic, ignoring lights and signs and making pedestrians dive for cover while the procession line hares after it in a mad effort to keep up.

You know, that they drive slowly and sensibly in order to give other people time to see them and react accordingly.

Why?

Respect for the dead?

As I said, this is a funeral procession. A big deal for those involved, but not for the rest of the planet. As Reliant points out it's common courtesy to give the procession right of way, but that's all it is - if a hearse comes to a red light I expect it to stop, just as I would any other vehicle.

I must assume that someone at some point with some authority figured the procession deserved the right of way, and no one has challenged it thus, at least not where I live, and some other places. It's hardly a new idea either, the 1977 film "Smokey and the Bandit" had a scene involving a funeral procession which clearly was expected to be given the right of way. Who knows how these things get started?

Including those fuckers who think a red light means "stop, unless you're a cyclist", but that's another rant

Agreed.

Maybe, but they're not "ignoring the rules of the road", they're being given a pass to ignore a few rules under specific conditions.

"They're not ignoring the rules of the road, they're ignoring the rules of the road." I assume you didn't proof read that sentence to realise how stupid it sounds.

Uh huh...so let me get this straight, you're now allowed to modify another person's sentences by taking out select words that alter the meaning of the whole, and then declare it stupid based on your modifications? Sorry, but bullshit. Reread what I actually wrote, and slow down a bit. And if you're still not getting it, here's a more detailed version

"They are not completely ignoring all the rules of the road, or being given license to purposefully drive in a manner that would be utterly reckless and dangerous to anyone sharing the roadway with them. What they are doing is being given a pass, providing they stay within the funeral procession and drive sensibly, to ignore a handful of traffic laws such as but not limited to ignoring street signs, traffic lights, and normal right of way procedures."

Better?

The fact that the local council is stupid enough to declare said exemption does not change the fact that it's dangerous.

How is it dangerous? The cars are clearly marked. They are driving at a slow speed giving everyone ample time to react. They have police escort (at least, every one I've seen or been part of has). The only danger comes from impatient assholes how aren't willing to give 1-3 minutes of their time to let the procession pass by and try to cut through the line recklessly.

Bereavement is not an excuse for bad driving,

What bad driving? There is nothing reckless or dangerous involved so long as people are paying any attention and understand what's going. The first should be a given for anyone on the road, if they aren't paying attention, they're going to cause a wreck regardless of funeral procession or just regular traffic. As for the second, granted some people might not know what's going on, but as long as they are still paying attention, they should be able to adapt. If I'm at a light and it turns green and the line of cars coming the other way just keeps going, I'm not about to gun it and play chicken, I'll wait till I have a clear lane.

nor is it a reason to declare someone exempt from following the rules of the road.

Clearly some places disagree with you on that point.

Lighthawk wrote:You know, that they drive slowly and sensibly in order to give other people time to see them and react accordingly.

The downside to which is that everyone else would expect them to obey the same rules as anyone else. If they're jumping red lights and behaving as though they've got right of way in all situations then there are going to be accidents.

Respect for the dead?

Does not require changing the rules of the road for hearses.

I must assume that someone at some point with some authority figured the procession deserved the right of way, and no one has challenged it thus, at least not where I live, and some other places. It's hardly a new idea either, the 1977 film "Smokey and the Bandit" had a scene involving a funeral procession which clearly was expected to be given the right of way. Who knows how these things get started?

What's this got to do with the stupidity of the idea?

Uh huh...so let me get this straight, you're now allowed to modify another person's sentences by taking out select words that alter the meaning of the whole, and then declare it stupid based on your modifications?

No, I'm allowed to cut out extraneous crap and say what I see. Like it or not they are acting in a manner that would get other road users a hefty fine and points.

How is it dangerous? The cars are clearly marked. They are driving at a slow speed giving everyone ample time to react...The only danger comes from impatient assholes how aren't willing to give 1-3 minutes of their time to let the procession pass by and try to cut through the line recklessly.

Speed isn't the danger here - the danger is that other road users will assume that everyone is following the same rules, when these funeral processions will not.

They have police escort (at least, every one I've seen or been part of has).

The plods have got more important things to do than escort hearses around.

What bad driving?

You wrote:this is going to be a very emotional and stressful time for some. Keeping it simple as "follow this line of cars" is probably a good thing for some.

If following a line of cars is the most people are up to then they shouldn't be on the road.

Captain Seafort wrote:The downside to which is that everyone else would expect them to obey the same rules as anyone else. If they're jumping red lights and behaving as though they've got right of way in all situations then there are going to be accidents.

If they tried to pull this for the 1st time in a place that has never had it, sure. I think however that the people living around the funeral home, the cemeteries, and the areas in between and around them are probably pretty used to this and know it when they see it. Also just plain people who live in areas that have this kind of freedom for funeral procession should know what it is. I certainly can't speak for everyone else, but if I see a line of cars driving slowly down the street with little flags stuck on them, I'm going to assume it's a funeral procession, even if I don't see the hearse. I can safely say the same for many members of my family and friends. And I can say that this was the practice both here in Missouri and in Oklahoma. Perhaps not for the entirety of both states, but at least for cities within them.

And beyond all that, its a freaking line of slow moving cars with brightly colored flags, with a police escort. If any of that is different elsewhere and they still have the same level of freedom, then I will agree with you, there is potential for disaster and it's stupid. But with all that, if anyone actually causes an accident, said person was not paying attention at all, was an idiot, or both.

Respect for the dead?

Does not require changing the rules of the road for hearses.

Strictly speaking, no it is not required. However, if we cut out everything in life that wasn't required, we would have a totally different world than the one we currently live in.

I must assume that someone at some point with some authority figured the procession deserved the right of way, and no one has challenged it thus, at least not where I live, and some other places. It's hardly a new idea either, the 1977 film "Smokey and the Bandit" had a scene involving a funeral procession which clearly was expected to be given the right of way. Who knows how these things get started?

What's this got to do with the stupidity of the idea?

That it's been around for at least 30+ years, likely longer. Its traditional in places. And no, that was not a comment on whether the idea is smart/dumb, right/wrong, was just pointing out that's its been around a while.

No, I'm allowed to cut out extraneous crap and say what I see.

Yeah, bullshit. This is what I said

Maybe, but they're not "ignoring the rules of the road", they're being given a pass to ignore a few rules under specific conditions.

This is what you said that I said

"They're not ignoring the rules of the road, they're ignoring the rules of the road."

If you're honestly going to sit there and claim that those two sentences are identical, then I'm going to call you blind idiot. I know you're smart enough to see the difference, so pretending that you can't is merely being childish and contrary. Would it help if I got Deep in here to point it out to you?

Like it or not they are acting in a manner that would get other road users a hefty fine and points.

Under normal conditions, yes. However just like they don't pull over and ticket parade floats, they don't pull over and ticket cars in a funeral procession, because they have gotten permission to drive on the streets in a manner outside the normal rules. And they do have permission to do it, whether you like it or not, whether you think its idiotic or not.

Speed isn't the danger here - the danger is that other road users will assume that everyone is following the same rules, when these funeral processions will not.

No, they won't assume, because as I stated above, in places where this is a common practice, most people will be aware of it.

The plods have got more important things to do than escort hearses around.

Maybe. That's an argument you'd need to take to the police chief and/or mayor in places that provide one. Frankly, I don't see the harm.

If following a line of cars is the most people are up to then they shouldn't be on the road.

That I will agree with. However we live in a world in which people, quite often actually, do not behave smartly or make the most reasonable of choices. I would say it might even be quite possible that the practice of giving the procession right of way came about as a way of trying to deal with grieving individuals driving who should not have been driving.

I was in one yesterday. The part you're missing Seafort is that in the cases LH is talking about the funeral procession has police escort stopping traffic and letting them by. Same thing happened with mine. Now without escort they should be obeying the laws of the road but with escort it's fairly common to allow the procession past.

This may be a cultural difference but funeral processions never get escorted here.

Ok, first off, none of the processions I've seen in my life had an escort.
Second, going 30 won't help when they come to a blind intersection (like half the ones in Poughkeepsie).
Third, not all of the cars have a "Funeral" logo, at least not a readily visible one.
Fourth, a good portion of people, especially school-age pedestrians have no idea about this.


This all adds up to an accident (or more than one).

stitch626 wrote:Ok, first off, none of the processions I've seen in my life had an escort.
Second, going 30 won't help when they come to a blind intersection (like half the ones in Poughkeepsie).
Third, not all of the cars have a "Funeral" logo, at least not a readily visible one.
Fourth, a good portion of people, especially school-age pedestrians have no idea about this.


This all adds up to an accident (or more than one).

No visible logo? A huge single-file column of cars, all with their hazard lights flashing, following a hearse and a black limousine isn't something of a giveaway?