Respect for a Funeral Procession

[tommyguitar]

I learned something today, that is for sure. I have never seen a funeral procession but I will know what to do now when I do see one. I didn't know they could go through red lights.

[loyaleddie]

Originally Posted by twofifty

The stuff marked up in red sure leaves a lot of room for interpretation, with the possibility of T-boning a funeral procession as it crosses on the red.

What does "immediately behind" mean when in real life safe vehicle separation ought to be at least 2 vehicle lengths on dry pavement?
What about this business of passage being "made in safety"? What appears safe to one driver is unsafe to another.

IMO -respect for the dead or not- when it comes to right of way at a controlled intersection, there should be no room for interpretation.
A red light or a stop sign means stop. Why exempt funeral processions? What's the hurry? The dead guy (bless his soul) is on his way to the grave.

The time to hurry and carefully blow through stops and lights was five days earlier when the soon-to-be deceased was in cardiac arrest in the ambulance.

A good way to ensure the safety of all and the integrity of the procession would be for the police to block intersections. This would be costly.

LOL

I know...there are a bunch of words that are open for interpretation in various laws....I have a friend how is a lawyer and I asked him about that...his response was "it depends on what a reasonable person wound think"..I than ask what defines a reasonable person...he said "that is the subjectivitiy of the law kicks in", its better to be on trial in front of a Jury than infront of a judge.

[Leeper]

So who has the right-of -way; the live guy headed to the hospital or the dead guy headed to the cemetary?

[twofifty]

Leeper thanks for the opportunity to make this tough call.

In the above scenario, the uniformed ambulance/EMT crew should pull over, dismount, and salute the funeral procession at it rips through the red light.

If the patient is conscious, he or she should be propped up in the litter and the back doors opened so that the patient can pay his respects.

Respect trumps common sense every time.

[sgtpatiolantern]

Originally Posted by Donkey Oatey

Had this happen to my family just after xmas in Red Deer. We couldn't even get out of the parking lot of the funeral home without bone heads budding in. Pretty much right behind the hearse. Had to stop at all the lights that turned red because of the idiots.

Passing the procession cutting in and out. Total disrespect. Expected no less from Dead Rear.

I live in Red Deer and sadly have to agree. The city is developing a whole new breed of discourteous drivers. I don't know what the panic is, but I sometimes feel like we are filming scenes to "Ricky Bobby 2 - Racing Red Deer"

[Toirtis]

I pull over to let them pass...every time....I will not pass a procession under any circumstances (I don't give a damn if they are doing 20 in a 60 zone and I need to be somewhere quickly)....I will not 'break through' a procession (such as at a 4-way stop). I live near 3 funeral homes and a large cemetery, so I get plenty of practice.

[Zip]

Originally Posted by Toirtis

I pull over to let them pass...every time....I will not pass a procession under any circumstances (I don't give a damn if they are doing 20 in a 60 zone and I need to be somewhere quickly)....I will not 'break through' a procession (such as at a 4-way stop). I live near 3 funeral homes and a large cemetery, so I get plenty of practice.

This is the right way of dealing with Funeral Procession's...being courteous and respectful all at the same time...Good on Ya..and well said Toirtis.

[R3illy]

Super old necro here but after a quick google this had the most relevant info on funeral processions in Alberta. I was trying to find rules that drivers must follow as it was evident from my experience today that edmonton drivers don't know or don't care when a funeral procession goes by.

We had 2 cars hit by other vehicles in our funeral procession and had multiple aggressive drivers run other cars off the road. In one case a guy decided he waited 30 seconds too long at a light as we all drove through it so he drove as fast as he could at our funeral procession trying to drive into us.

Its quite a shame that a couple vehicles got hit and didn't make it to the cemetery to say their good byes.

Today brought out the worst in Edmonton drivers. Such a shame.

[catnthehat]

Some people cannot wait any length of time these days for anything.

The fact that they should be stopping out of respect for those in the procession as well as the person in the hearse has absolutely no bearing on the fact that they have to give those people very most , 2 minutes of their time, which the idiots don't think that they should have to .

After all, it would inconvenience them for all of t minutes!!
Cat

[Bushrat]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

Some people cannot wait any length of time these days for anything.

The fact that they should be stopping out of respect for those in the procession as well as the person in the hearse has absolutely no bearing on the fact that they have to give those people very most , 2 minutes of their time, which the idiots don't think that they should have to .

After all, it would inconvenience them for all of t minutes!!
Cat

Even worse is half the dimwits out there don't even know what a funeral procession is in the first place. Most young people see a line of cars going through traffic lights not stopping, they get all road raged up because that line up of idiots didn't stop for the lights and held him up....

[R3illy]

That's exactly what happened as our funeral procession went through a busy intersection when the light changed half way through. The guy that now had a green light decided he had enough and that if he hit anyone it wouldn't be his fault.

He literally hit the gas and didn't let up and ended up going between 2 cars...

It was quite a gong show and the drive we had to take was very brief....

[Clgy_Dave2.0]

Originally Posted by R3illy

Super old necro here but after a quick google this had the most relevant info on funeral processions in Alberta. I was trying to find rules that drivers must follow as it was evident from my experience today that edmonton drivers don't know or don't care when a funeral procession goes by.

We had 2 cars hit by other vehicles in our funeral procession and had multiple aggressive drivers run other cars off the road. In one case a guy decided he waited 30 seconds too long at a light as we all drove through it so he drove as fast as he could at our funeral procession trying to drive into us.

Its quite a shame that a couple vehicles got hit and didn't make it to the cemetery to say their good byes.

Today brought out the worst in Edmonton drivers. Such a shame.

Cops should've been called and tickets/fines handed out!!

[-JR-]

I was not there what you seen.....but back in the day you knew there was a funeral as all the cars had there lights on.

What did you see ? that he might not have. He might of just seen you not moving and did not see a funeral !

[I-Love-Eyes]

Respect and common sense are hard to find these days.

I know funeral processions are covered in the drivers handbook and drivers written test, but I know I was NEVER tested on this on my driving lessons, and that was 40 years ago. Thanks to my dad for teaching me respect! I think the education of drivers these days is lax.

I also think you can't fix stupid and you can't teach common sense and respect is something that some people just don't have, unfortunately.

[Gammaboy]

I don't remember it on my drivers test back in the day but the funeral route was past the grade K-9 schools in Lacombe so saw the processions run the 4-way stop sign for a decade. But now with daytime running lights I can see where it could get missed (and yes, people are in to much of a hurry these days.)

[Heyupduck]

I don't knowingly pass a funeral procession, but there have been times when I have realised I have been passing one - I keep going.
I certainly wouldn't honk my horn or be a jerk about it.
If i was a public servant who died or someone who made a great contribution I'd stop for sure.
As for me, when I'm dead feel free to pass me.

[does it ALL outdoors]

Originally Posted by I-Love-Eyes

Respect and common sense are hard to find these days.

Sad but true..

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by buckbrushoutdoors

One of our stupid bylaw officers pulled over someone in a funeral procession for not wearing there seat belt while doing 20km/hr through town. Now how curtious is that?

Pictures or it did t happen.

Pull over if safe to do so, stop working if safe to do so, pay respect, show respect...respect.

[hover]

I remember a hearse being broadsided, and the coffin flew right out of it..how's that for absurd?

[petew]

Originally Posted by Ebrand

One of my favorite tickets to write!!!

Good that you enjoy your job and like writing tickets . Next time you take out the pen, ask yourself " If I am in trouble would this person help me , or turn away and let me suffer what ever happens ? "
Happy writing .

I always try to pull over . Sometimes it isn't an option.

[waldedw]

all to many people have a pure lack of respect these days for everything ..... including themselves, luckily there are still lots of us that have and show respect and yes at time we even show a bit of respect for the douche bags of the world even though they don't deserve it and for the most part it goes unnoticed because they are just to self centered.

Don't sink to their level

[CaberTosser]

In the recent processions I've been in the funeral workers did make a brief notation of the route, but didn't tell the drivers anything at all about the laws of a funeral procession. I was driving one car and the cars both before and behind me were leaving huge gaps or stopping for traffic lights, etc. I feel its important for the funeral companies to step up and mention this before every procession as far too many people either forgot this or never knew it.

[waterninja]

Originally Posted by R3illy

Super old necro here but after a quick google this had the most relevant info on funeral processions in Alberta. I was trying to find rules that drivers must follow as it was evident from my experience today that edmonton drivers don't know or don't care when a funeral procession goes by.

We had 2 cars hit by other vehicles in our funeral procession and had multiple aggressive drivers run other cars off the road. In one case a guy decided he waited 30 seconds too long at a light as we all drove through it so he drove as fast as he could at our funeral procession trying to drive into us.

Its quite a shame that a couple vehicles got hit and didn't make it to the cemetery to say their good byes.

Today brought out the worst in Edmonton drivers. Such a shame.

Really???? 2 cars hit and MULTIPLE cars run off the road???? Was there an exchange of gunfire also? I don't mind a bit of exageration in the telling of a good story, but come on now.

[RBI]

I think , like a lot of life (death ) , lack of respect plays a large part in our world today .
Our world has become , to some degree , so busy , that the general mind set has become ... me ... and not so much us , as it used to be

Now some of that is not so much in the " having no respect " , as it is , life is so busy , that people kind of have a tighter focus on what " they " are doing , and may be unaware of the larger picture ...." oh sorry , I didn't realize that was a funeral , I guess I should have pulled over " .

Then there are the people that have poop that doesn't smell , that think that they are better than the rest of us , that seem to feel that they are entitled to live by a different set of lifestyle rules than us , that just can't be bothered to have/show respect .

And then of course , there are the pure " Jerkwads " that have absolutely NO thought or respect for anybody or anything .

And more and more in the last couple of decades or so , there are larger numbers of other non-Canadians , living among us , that simply don't know enough or understand our culture . ( can of worms here )

But I have also say that I think with a lot of things in our daily lives , there seems to be a lot of confusion or lack of knowledge/understanding that play a large part in our perceived " lack of respect "

A funereal procession ,for example , how many people "sort " of know the rules/procedure , " I think we can go through this red lite , but I'm just not sure , so I'll stop " .
Some would argue that they should know the law/rules , and that the fault is theirs for not knowing , and to some degree that's true , but I think the bigger problem is that , whether is traffic laws or life laws , there is simply not enough public awareness/EDUCATION of how things should properly be done .

And , although you can get a ticket for failing to yield to a funereal procession , you can't be charged with failing to remove you hat .

The legal law pertains to " People " , not cultures

My thoughts , maybe not yours

[RBI]

Originally Posted by CaberTosser

In the recent processions I've been in the funeral workers did make a brief notation of the route, but didn't tell the drivers anything at all about the laws of a funeral procession. I was driving one car and the cars both before and behind me were leaving huge gaps or stopping for traffic lights, etc. I feel its important for the funeral companies to step up and mention this before every procession as far too many people either forgot this or never knew it.

Nail on the head !

[ivegonefishing]

Thanks for this thread OP. I came to Canada when I was seven. Never discussed this issue with my parents or in high school driver training. Went to a few family funerals in Toronto; with a police escort or in the lead Limo's. I knew enough to never cross a funeral procession, but I didn't know we are supposed to pull to the right and stop. Thank you for all the information.

[R3illy]

Our funeral procession just told 100 people to follow the lead vehicle. They didn't spend anytime discussing rules or what to do if the light changes red. As much as the bad drivers are at fault for hitting 2 of our vehicles in our funeral procession I can definitely see a need for the funeral homes to be more pro active in discussing rules of the road with all attending.

I don't see why the funeral homes aren't responsible for marking each vehicle with a cone on the roof of each car to signify they are part of the funeral procession. It may help idiot drivers to see that they are part of a funeral.

As it was for us they told us to follow and turn on your hazards.

[Canehdianman]

funeral processions should be illegal.

[Twisted Canuck]

I have always stopped for processions, and will remove my hat if wearing one as well as I believe it is respectful. A month or so ago, I was first at a red light when a procession came through making a left in front of me. Put on my four ways (at the light) and took my hat off....when we got the green light, the asshat behind me in the big jacked up pickup started laying on his horn, even though the procession wasn't halfway done. I got out of my vehicle and approached the obnoxious kid behind me (who suddenly looked concerned about rolling down his window)....I told him that 'we' were waiting for the funeral procession to pass, to show some respect and maybe take off his (stupid flat brimmed) hat. He did. So, I taught somebody something!

[fordtruckin]

Depends where you are I imagine. This past summer at my Grandpas funeral in Ohio the funeral procession had a police escort blocking side roads. Everyone stopped and waited we just passed through, granted all vehicles in the procession had 4 ways on and little magnetic flags identifying them. Didn't have to stop at lights or stop signs. Just another funeral in Ohio.