My 9yr old step-daughter asked me a question.......?

Question

Why do cars have to pull off to the side of the road when a funeral procession passes? She said to pay your respects, is that true or is it also a law? Curious.

Answer 1

In Ohio it is the law. You have to pull over for them, funeral processions also all get to proceed through an intersection if the hearse goes through legally (IE. light turns red they keep going through).

Answer 2

In Connecticut it's not against the law to fail to pull over or stop while a procession passes but for the most part, unless the people are total jerks (and man oh man there is no shortage of them) then you wait.
Its a sign of courtesy and respect. Plus some of these processions can be long. In many cases a few cops are assigned for a short time to get the procession from the funeral home to the church and the church to the cemetery. They'll lead and stop traffic at major intersections.

Answer 3

In most states it is the law. I have always understood that you must pull over and give the funeral procession the right of way unless you are on the opposite side of a divided highway or road.

Answer 4

Most states have a law that states that "No person shall unreasonably interfere with a funeral procession." So, that's why people go to the side of the road.

Answer 5

Some states it is a law. It is for showing your respect by not disrupting a funeral procession!

I wouldn't disrupt your's or your families' and I sure as heck wouldn't want to cause an accident or make the whole group separate cuz I wanted to go get a latte.

Answer 6

I do not know of any law regulating the "right-of-way" that requires a motorist to yield the right-of-way (to "pull off to the side of the road") upon the APPROACH of a funeral procession.

Illinois state law requires that a motorist NOT in the funeral procession "....shall not drive his (or her) vehicle in the funeral procession except when authorized to do so by a traffic officer or when such vehicle is an authorized emergency vehicle giving audible or visual signal."

Additionally, "Operators of vehicles not a part of a funeral procession may not form a procession or convoy and have their headlights lighted for the purpose of securing the right-of-way granted by this (law) to funeral processions."

Also, the traffic (right-of-way) laws in Illinois provide that "The operator of a motor vehicle NOT in a funeral procession MAY OVERTAKE AND PASS the vehicles in (a funeral) procession IF SUCH OVERTAKING AND PASSING can be accomplished WITHOUT causing a HAZARD or INTERFERING with (the funeral) procession."

Your step-daughter may have a compassionate and respectful nature to show regard and deference to the decedent and his or her family members in the funeral procession or she may have been misinformed by individuals who are not familiar with the law.

But please be aware that when the LEADING VEHICLE in a funeral procession (usually the hearse) "....has proceeded across an intersection in accordance with a (green or go signal) or after stopping as required by (a) stop sign, ALL VEHICLES in (the funeral) procession may proceed WITHOUT STOPPING, regardless of the (stop) sign or (steady red or stop) signal and the leading vehicle and the vehicles in the (funeral) procession shall proceed WITH CAUTION."

I could not believe it, but the response from "Kevin" (police officer) is correct: In the State of Ohio a motorist or operator of a motor vehicle must yield the right-of-way to a funeral procession. That means plainly and clearly: A motorist or operator of a motor vehicle must pull over to the right side of the roadway and allow the funeral procession to proceed without interference or interruption.

Title XLV of Ohio State Statutes regarding the Regulation of Motor Vehicles (chapter 4511 Traffic Laws - Operation of Motor Vehicles) and section .45 (B) of that chapter states: "Excepting public safety vehicles proceeding in accordance with (this code) or when directed by a police officer, pedestrians and THE OPERATORS OF ALL VEHICLES ..... shall yield the right-of-way to each vehicle that is a part of a funeral procession."

Answer 7

In the states I have been in, you are required to obey the funeral procession directors on motor cycles who will stop traffic at intersections and on cross streets, but I haven't noticed vehicles who are traveling in the opposite direction having to pull over.

Answer 8

It is against the law in WV to interrupt a funeral procession. I'm not sure if that's the law everywhere, though.

Answer 9

I'm not aware of it being a law, but I do believe, it's common courtesy for people to pull over.

Answer 10

It is repsect, but it also allows police escorting the funeral to pass without danger of a crash.