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In the south people will pull to the side of the road and stop for an oncoming funeral procession. I drive on through if it's possible. My kid and grandkids say I'm being disrespectful to the dead. I argue that just being dead does not earn one respect. What are your thought on this??

RESPONSE:
I'm really surprised at the disagreement. I'm not talking about cutting into a funeral. I'm talking about pulling over for an oncoming one. And no, it's not the law. We get backed up miles in this little town.

freeofgod 8 July 2
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24 comments

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9

The dead of course can have no sensibility for you to offend...however it is courtesy to those who are newly mourning the loss of a loved one to show respect and not whizz past a cortège at speed. It is just being mindful of others feelings, and pulling over costs us very little in time and effort.

8

In Pa...and while it is not the law, a trooper might stop you and get you for a bunch of little violations...not worth it....it is respect for the living, not the dead...and, it is not about respect as much as safety.

Funeral processions are typically led by a black car, followed by a hearse and/or limo, and then a procession of vehicles. The end of a funeral procession is typically marked by another black car, or a car carrying two funeral flags or a flashing light

Do be respectful.
Do yield, once the lead car has entered traffic the entire procession should be able to follow through without interruption, regardless of if the lights change. Remember that many people will be visiting out of town, shortening your drive to work is not worth someone missing their loved ones burial.
Do look for the last vehicle in the procession. Once it passes, the normal flow of traffic can resume.
Don’t cut into or cut off a procession. Processional vehicles are instructed to remain as close together as possible, you could cause a serious accident. Additionally, if a guest becomes lost they may miss the burial of a loved one. Behave appropriately.
Don’t honk at a car in a funeral procession. Respect that these people don’t want to be involved in the procession anymore than you want to be in traffic.
Don’t pass a funeral procession on the right side, unless the procession is in the far left lane.

I agree. It’s the mourners I respect. I’ve seen bikers dismount and hold their helmets.

@CarolinaGirl60 I will always pull over if I know it is for a local veteran...they usually announce these in our local news and papers...

7

don't be a douchebag.

Ditto

5

Receiving respect means showing respect to others.

5

It is a safety issue, You have a mix of people that for many reasons may not be in the best frame of mind, following closely who may have little to no idea of where they are going, It goes back to days when many times those driving were inexperienced drivers.

no grind here. not for or against, don't care. the reference in the post is to a procession in oncoming traffic. because of this its seems to me the UN safe condition is for some or most (?) of traffic to be doing one thing against the still lawfully traveling car(s), and then potentially trying to merge against the lawful still traveling car(s), while miffed that said car(s) broke some rule that doesn't exist?... everyone obeying the same traffic laws usually results in the safest condition. considering the repeated assertion that it is not against the law, would not the safe condition be for everyone to continue traveling as if the unwritten rule remained as others have stated - for the dead guy?

@larsatrg I was taking no position, i was expaining the history of why. It is not for respect to the dead or the living, it was for public safety at a time when roads were much more unsafe than they are now. When I took driver's ed in 1970, it was a law that all traffic in both directions would pull to the right and allow the prosession to travel unimpeded. When that law was written most roads were 2 lane with no paved shoulder.

4

I see no reason to stop if the procession is oncoming. Not pulling through or interfering with it, sure, but driving on when you are facing doesn't interfere in any way.

I agree with that. I think a lot of people missed the oncoming part until I went back and made it bold. At least I hope they did.

4

Man, and I thought I was an asshole.

1of5 Level 8 July 2, 2019

You might still be right. 😀

@JimG oh I am an asshole, but I'd never even think of doing this.

@1of5 no you are not...😀

@1of5 I'm not going to judge because all of us can be, but in this case you are definitely not an asshole.

@thinktwice I think those who've blocked me would disagree with you, but they can't chime in anymore. 😉

4

You move to the side allow them to pass and not interfere is actually a law the respect is for grieving families and friends

bobwjr Level 10 July 2, 2019
3

Same here. I’ve even been yelled at for it. I didn’t know them and I think it’s an inconvenient custom at best.

3

Funerals are not for the dead - the coffin is just a contaiber for a lump of meat. A funeral is a public display of grief by those who mourn the loss - I have no problem in allowing them to do that and if waiting at a roadside for a minute or so to allow them to pass is the cost - small price to pay

3

"Respect for the dead" is relevant here in the east(asia), where ancestor worship is traditional and sustains.
I've long thought that in the west, anything occurring after death is for the benefit and comfort of the survivors. The dead don't care. They're dead... ...

3

Since my response keeps dropping I'll try again. It is NOT against the law to keep driving if you are driving facing a procession. Or beside one if you are on a four lane.
And I thought respect was something you earned in life not something bestowed in death.
I had not thought of the family but may rethink that. MAY.

3

I like the KLINGON view of the dead...it's just a carcass...do as you please.

3

If it's a public highway unless flagged to stop I will, otherwise I to have a reason to be on the highway.

2

Good for you. Apparently, you’ve outgrown that little town 🙂

Varn Level 8 July 2, 2019
2

A couple of months ago my brother died and we appreciated the fact that we didn't have to deal with getting through stop signs and traffic lights- yes we had a police escort.

Some people on the other side of the road pulled over and others didn't. I personally did not care about oncoming traffic since they did not impede us,

2

I'VE SEEN people do that...pull over for an oncoming funeral...i mean...it's not like one of the cars is going to JUMP out of the line...i just continue driving...i don't know the person who is in the hearse. If it was a cop, who was killed in the line of duty...i may if i happen to know it is their funeral. But otherwise...i'm on my way to somewhere also.

2

It's bullsh*t. It ceases to matter once dead. It's just a carcass. If it was a dead horse, would anyone care? Same thing.

2

I for one say, FUCK THE DEAD! Never liked that Jerry Garcia dude.

2

I don't see people pulling over like they used to. I always thought it was rediculos anyway. It is not a law in Texas, so no big deal. Glad to see it dying. ☺

2

Jeez, I haven't seen a Funeral procession in a long time. I have no answer. 🤷♀️

If you ever come to Chattanooga, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the experience.

1

Respect has varying degrees. For instance, one can lose all respect, some respect, a little respect, etc. for someone based on their perception of their character. That being said, the dead do not garner respect for dying, in my book. Should I speak of Hitler's name with reverence because he is dead? Should I speak in hushed tones of Mother Teresa because she died? Should I refuse to speak of Ghandi because he died? There are people who think all three should be respected. I, however, know Hitler was a monster, and so was Mother Teresa, and Ghandi was a racist. They don't deserve the respect they are given. I have no problem discussing the dead for who they were in life. Be they amazing, like Carl Sagan, or monsters like John Wayne Gacy. They don't automatically become saints, for lack of a better term, because they stopped breathing. And as for the funeral procession question... if you are ahead of them, there's no reason to not remain ahead of them. They tend to be slow and lengthy anyway. You'll probably be 'out of their way" faster by simply continuing to drive.

0

How about some respect for the living who are in mourning? You want my thoughts? You are amazingly inconsiderate and selfish.

Does it take one to know one 😉

@moore, And you are a rude jerk.

@freeofgod, @Varn Does it take one to know one? LMAO Are you in 5th or 6th grade? In response to your question, the answer is no it does not. What it takes is the maturity to feel sympathy for others, a maturity which you apparently have not reached.

@mooredolezal, I did not ask for a critique of me as a person but thoughts on the custom. Two very different things.

@freeofgod then why did you include a critique by your children and grandchildren? They were critiquing you not giving their thoughts on the custom.

@mooredolezal ...even in 5th grade ..we knew, it does 🙂 Sympathy is the burden of those having suffered the loss. And, they’ve an entire lane - and a police escort! …anything more is simply ignorance from an often ignorant public. But go ahead, pull over, I’ve the sense to move on ~

0

Stopping for a funeral procession is required by law in the south. It is not just convention or courtesy. If you drive on, you risk an arrest and fine.

No. Stopping for one in your line of traffic is. If it's only a two lane road. Stopping for an oncoming one is not required by law. That is a misconception.

@freeofgod Same in PA...you have to wait for them to get through at an intersection, but if you are going the opposite way, there is no need to stop or pull over...

@thinktwice , still, people do. I see no reason to tie up traffic in the oncoming lane.

@thinktwice I have no pride. I’ll pass them on a four lane road.

@freeofgod agree

@freeofgod, @AstralSmoke you can pass on a four lane road...

@thinktwice , of course you can. Many just don't.

@freeofgod I think a lot of that might be because in the South and smaller places, people know each other...I did find a lot more of this in my dad's stomping grounds in Kentucky and Indiana than in the big cities where I lived...people in cities rarely even say hello, let alone stop for traffic of any kind!

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