Funeral processions have a long , rich story . But they can be wild to your wellness . And your wallet .
Just ask the Michigan - basedJimmy John ’s sandwich workshop employeewho , in 2011 , twice cut into a funeral procession while making pitch . He by and by received a ticket for loser to yield . And he lost his job . But it could have been worse . In 2009,Carol Struebing was killedwhen her sister drive them right into the path of an oncoming funeral procession , not empty the procession had the right - of - way .
Funeral directorssay driving in or near a advancement is a high-risk business these days . That ’s because many drivers in the U.S. are unaware of the laws and tradition surrounding funeral processions . They ’re also increasingly on their phones and distracted while driving . And some mass merely do n’t handle .
The handsome area of confusion , and website of fender - bender , seems to be carrefour . Many stateshave no laws regarding funeral processions . In others , the lead fomite in the procession must obey traffic signal at carrefour , stopping , for example , at a cerise light or stop house . But once the tether vehicle proceeds through the intersection , all the cable car behind may follow without stopping — even if the light twist red in the midst of the procession .
Nevada is theonly statethat specifically allow the lead fomite to go through a cherry light without stopping . And law in Arizona , Idaho , Kentucky , Montana and North Dakota give funeral processions the right wing - of - way at all intersections , imply processions can run red sparkle and drive through stop signs .
So what do you do if you see a funeral procession approaching an intersection and you are n’t sure of the local rule ? address every intersection as if it ’s uncontrolled , enjoin Greg Wickert , a partner in the national and international insurance policy law firm Matthiesen , Wickert & Lehrer . Or , to think of it another way of life , act the same direction you do when you see police or pinch vehicle get ready to extend a red light . " This is your aliveness we ’re utter about , " Wickert say , " not just a ticket or some worriment . "
And if you ’re part of a funeral procession , stay merry . Too many procession participant are mainly interested with staying near to the vehicle ahead of them , Wickert allege , dread an foreigner will abbreviate in . But this signify they ’re not in full cognizant of what ’s go on around them .
If you ’re not sure of the law of nature in your area , you ’ll be safest if you keepthese pointsin mind when you encounter a funeral procession .
Why are funeral procession hand special treatment to begin with ? Tradition . citizenry have been process with the dead for millennia , solemnly post their dearly departed from memorial site to burial website . to begin with , they proceeded on foot , but finally knight - pull wagons were used to ravish the bodies , and then motorized vehicle . No matter the imparting chemical mechanism , funeral processions were greatly idolise .
In the U.S. , a tradition arise when motorized funeral processions became the norm . motorist ceded the right - of - manner to all vehicles in a funeral emanation , and/or pulled over to the side of the road . This was a signaling of respect for the deceased , as well as their sorrower .
In many states , this tradition finally became codified into police . However , while the general formula of thumb is to knuckle under to a funeral advancement , the exact Pentateuch alter across country and even communities . And many states have no laws , just customs . So even the most well - meaning and undistracted driver can be stymied .
Experts also remark that many people mistakenly conceive youmust pull overwhen a funeral progress is go up , even if you ’re on the other side of the route . While this may be a custom in places , no country laws require this . In fact , such a move may be hazardous and make a collision .
And causing a collision while trying to show respect for someone ’s loss would be a straight calamity .
