Driving in a Funeral Procession?

Question

I have noticed that young drivers today either have never been told the meaning of a stream of cars all driving in a row, with there head lights on, or else they find it amusing to cut into a funeral procession and cause havok. What has happened to the days where people would pull over out of respect for a hearse? how come so many young people completely ignore funeral processions or cut into funeral processions? how many people find this really disrespectful and annoying?

Answer 1

I think alot of people just don't know. I never dealt with death at an age where death could be understood until recently, and when I first started driving, I honestly had no clue. This isn't something they teach you in Drivers Ed. Now that I DO know, I always pull over out of respect to the dead and mourners. It is disrespectful, I agree, but this is one of those "unwritten rules" that is difficult to expect everyone to know. Hey, why don't you start telling young drivers in your area about it? Word of mouth is how I found out.

JJ also hit on a very good point;
"Also, technology has altered the meaning of headlights during the day. So many cars have daytime running lights. They have become so commonplace many people don't even notice it. If this is the distinguishing factor for a funeral procession, it is difficult to differentiate the procession for groups of cars traveling in a row."

I often don't even realize it's a procession until I see the hearse. Then I feel like the worlds biggest ******** and try to safely get out of everyone's way.

Answer 2

The society has changed. It isn't that the morals of today are in decay as compared to the bygone eras. Every generation says this about the last. So, it isn't that.

There may, however be other societal and actual changes in the world. The volume of traffic has increased substantially as more and more people have vehicles. It is not surprising to see high volumes of cars traveling in a succession.

Also, technology has altered the meaning of headlights during the day. So many cars have daytime running lights. They have become so commonplace many people don't even notice it. If this is the distinguishing factor for a funeral procession, it is difficult to differentiate the procession for groups of cars traveling in a row.

Answer 3

I find it disrespectful, yes. Im not trying to offend anyone but its also evident & annoying that they dont teach those who are not native to the US about funeral procession rules. I saw an accident occur right in front of me once involving a car in a funeral procession & a car driven by someone who was clearly not a citizen. I felt bad because I saw the look on the guys face who caused the accident but still. It is totally disrespectful to disrupt a funeral procession. I try not to even drive too close to one, like if Im tailing the last car, I try to leave a respectable amount of space between me & the last car. But yeah, the young people are totally ignorant to the whole funeral procession thing but I guarantee you, if it was their friend or grandmother or child in that hearse, they'd be ready to fight someone who cut off the procession. Lets face it, respect is almost extinct!

Answer 4

It is disrespectful and annoying, but I don't know when I was a teenager if I knew about funeral processions. I was too young to really remember either of my grandfather's funerals and when my great uncle died, we just had a graveside service. No one else died until I was in my early 20s. So it's hopefully ignorance not disrespect.

Answer 5

Yes, I find it most annoying. You know, I didn't take driver's education, and I went to the BMV, and wasn't taught that there either. When I was a little in the car with my family, I remember my dad pulling over and I asked. From that moment on I knew out of respect you stopped, no matter what you are doing, and have a few moments of time to respect what is going on.
A lot of teens have no regard for anything, all they are worried about is talking on their cell phones, and worrying about themselves.

Answer 6

In the south, this courtesy is still very much prevalent. I've never been to a funeral (or witnessed a procession) in the south, where traffic did not stop. So the dying tradition (no pun intended) may depend on where you live.

Answer 7

When my dear brother-in-law passed away two years ago, we had a police motorcycle escort from the funeral home to the cemetery. Although this was a courtesy in recognition of his position, it also kept ignorant teens from cutting in.

I have read the other posts here with great interest. I am appalled at the lack of socialization that now passes for civilization.

Answer 8

Well the fault may lie with the fact no one ever taught them to respect the procession. It is annoying at the very least, but in most places the director has a cell phone, they usually call the local police if someone really disrupts it.

Answer 9

Poor rearing and being brought up without the good examples of respectful adults. The pulling over to the side thing is still done in the South, BTW. (Was it ever done in the North?) I actually had a Bostonian complain to me about how 'stupid ' the practice is. Maybe these particular bad behaviors ( not pulling over and finding fault with local custom)are just the result of yankee influence ;-) I especially find this kind of disrespect annoying.

Answer 10

I think part of it is also ignorance. When I think back to my driver's education class (that was how long now?!?!) I remember that the lesson of funeral processions wasn't addressed and if it wasn't for the fact that I was in a few when I was younger I wouldn't have known that they have right of way.