I am from California, but currently live in Slidell, LA. One day in my town, I was pulling out of my subdivision, and I apparently was tail-end to a funeral procession. I noticed that as I followed behind them, people on the opposite side of the street had stopped in the middle of traffic until the procession passed them by. It seemed like the cars that had stopped were sporatic, and others had actually driven around some of them. I believe the person who had passed away was a police officer. I guess I'd like to know, what was the reason they pulled over on the other side of the street? Was it a southern thing, or a military/police kind of thing? I'm not sure, but would love to know!!!
2007-09-20 04:26:19 · 21 answers · asked by candeelux 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I know about a funeral procession on my side to pull over, i'm talking about people on the OTHER side of the street, as in traffic going the opposite way.Is it appropriate for that lane to pull over. I never had seen opposing traffic pull over until i moved here.
2007-09-21 05:42:37 · update #1
It's a sign of respect to the family to pull over/stop. Most of the time people will just pull over until the hearse, family cars and a few others have passed before they pull back on the road and go on their way. It's a way of offering your condolences to the family of the deceased person.
2007-09-20 04:35:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure if it's a southern thing or not. I live in Georgia and I figured this was done all over the country.
When a funeral procession passes through, the proper action to take is to pull over and stop. This not only shows respect for the deceased, but it also clears the way for the procession to the grave site. I could understand you thinking since there were probably police on motorcycles at the front of the procession that you would assume the funeral was for a police officer or someone in the military. However, the police are used for everyone around here, no matter how they served society.
If you're ever in a funeral procession here in the south, when you pass the entrance to the cemetery you'll notice the police who led the way have stopped and are saluting over their hearts. Again, this is a showing of respect and sympathy.
I hope I helped!
2007-09-20 04:37:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have never seen anyone pull over for a funeral procession. In our city, most of the main roads (not the neighborhood side streets) are four/five lane highways. The procession stays in the right hand lane and the traffic in the left lane continues as normal. As does the traffic in the oncoming lanes. Drivers yield to the procession at stop signs and traffics lights to let the entire procession through without interruption. And you never change lanes or make a turn in to the procession. But that's about it. None of this pulling over and stopping. That would be a major traffic hazard.
2007-09-21 16:39:22 · answer #3 · answered by ds37x 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like it was a bit of both. It's a VERY Southern thing to stop what you're doing when a funeral procession goes by. My aunt died in North Carolina last year, and on the way to the cemetery, we passed a golf course. As the procession drove past one of the greens by the road, everyone in the golf foursome stopped, took off their hats, and stopped what they were doing to stand respectfully as we drove by. It was the sort of kindness that is noticed and appreciated.
Funeral processions have the right of way (it's a courtesy, to allow the group to stay together and not have people get lost on the way to the cemetery). On surface streets, you'll often see cars pull over and allow the procession to drive by. But invariably, some yahoo who isn't paying attention or didn't see the hearse at the front of the line will try to pass, etc. On interstates, people should try not to change lanes into a procession -- obviously, it's not safe to come to a complete stop.
Police officers and other public servants, such as firemen and the military, tend to get similar gestures of respect all over the country -- it's just in the South, we do it for everyone :-)
2007-09-20 05:18:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is a show of respect for the deceased & their family & friends to pull over onto the side of the road as the funeral procession goes by. I'm from the south and that's how it's always been here. There's always a police escort & the officers are at every intersection directing traffic. Maybe it is a southern thing.
2007-09-20 04:35:18 · answer #5 · answered by JeenaBlahBlahBlah 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The respectful thing to do would be to pull over. We were in a family funeral procession in a small town years ago, and it was very touching to see the people pull over on the other side of the road and some of those wearing hats removed them. Unfortunately, many people these days can't be bothered with being respectful of anyone- dead or alive. In this ol' city I live in, pulling over would likely cause accidents or a few good cases of road rage...
2007-09-20 05:17:53 · answer #6 · answered by auroraone 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm from Ohio, and its for anyone that has passed. We're suppose to come to a full stop and if we can pull over to the side of the road and wait.
But when my grandfather passed away last October, some idiot in a giant van cut through the procession! You're not suppose to do that. It just shows how little respect people have to anyone that dies.
2007-09-20 04:41:42 · answer #7 · answered by ♥Brown Eyed Girl ♥ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's a good question! I think it all depends on where you are from. In the south, I've known places where people come to a complete stop to show respect to the dead (I've even seen some people get out of their cars and stand by it till the procession passes). I have also seen where people continue to drive by ignoring the procession.
One thing is for sure though... never drive through a procession line (like like to cross it).
2007-09-20 04:32:46 · answer #8 · answered by junebug 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Pull over to the side of the road and wait for the procession to pass. It's just a show of respect.
2007-09-20 04:36:55 · answer #9 · answered by DJ 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is customary in most parts of the country to allow a funeral party to pass uninhibited. These are mourners and normally on their way to bury a loved one. It is a matter of courtesy. Most of these vehicles have their lights on so as to be easily identified during the day hours.
Most of these people are trying to drive, and deal with their grief at the same time. Many have Police officers on motorcycles to alert other drivers that a funeral party is approaching. Traffic is to stop and let them pass.
2007-09-20 05:16:00 · answer #10 · answered by talondora 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋