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**moosetags** · 09-19-2009, 08:32 AM

In the South, stopping for a funeral procession has been the custom all of my lifetime. I was a young City of Miami Police Officer in the 60's. Motor officers escorted funeral processions, stopping traffic along the route. In the early 70's I was a motor office with the City of Tallahassee Police Department. We provided motorcycle escort for all funeral processions. We would use the oncoming lane to leap frog the procession to lighted intersections. Any oncoming traffic that did not pull off, we would put off. Almost everyone would just pull off.

I remember one incident where a young woman refused to pull off and almost hit me head on. I took a brief moment to stop her. I took her drivers license, and told her to stay there until I came back. I returned about 45 minutes later. I had pretty much decided that I was not going to write her as she had already been greatly inconvenienced. She proceeded to give me a serious bunch of lip. I let her hold paper for everything that I could think of.

Brian

centennialman · 09-19-2009, 08:45 AM

I come from a small mountain town in Colorado and nearly everything stops when the funeral procession goes through town. In the city, where I live now, I still see people pull over when the procession goes by. I always pull over. It's a final sign of respect.

gutsgolf · 09-28-2009, 06:05 AM

Steve "Centennial Man"
I feel the same way. When my father passed away it was in a small city. It was very nice to see how people reacted by pulling over.
Thanks

danalee · 09-28-2009, 06:47 AM

It is a practice here in NC. I feel like its just a little bit of human kindness that we can all pass on.

Mikethefixit · 09-28-2009, 07:05 AM

Here in Ohio the law is pretty much as the posted law in Georgia.
Funeral processions have the right of way at all intersections. Usually there is a motor Escort(not law enforcement) but they have the rite to stop traffic,I guess(they do it) As far as I know you are not required to pull over or stop when meeting a funeral procession. I have even seen people pass a procession on a 4 lane street. I never do. ITS a respect thing.

3streams · 09-28-2009, 07:22 AM

I have been in a number of funeral processions- mostly in rural areas- and have noticed people pulling off- as a child I asked my mother why and she said because those people know what we are going through and are showing their respects to your grandma. As an adult I pull over to offer the same respect. I have never had to do this while towing the airstream- although I would.

gutsgolf · 11-20-2009, 03:40 PM

Well, I now have another funeral experience I would have never imagined being a part of. I am a member of an experimental aircraft club. EAA614.com. About three weeks ago two of our members had a mid air collision and one did not survive. I was asked to fly in the right seat in one of the planes in a missing man formation fly over the burial service. I took serveral pics. Was a moving experience.

mwells4654 · 11-20-2009, 05:20 PM

I have always pulled off to the right when I see a funeral procession. They go right thru traffic lights and all so as to keep the procession together. Everyone waits, out of respect to the family. I thought every state did this - I guess not.

Journalist · 11-20-2009, 05:33 PM

I grew up along the Gulf Coast of Alabama and the panhandle of Florida. If any of you are vacationing in that area, I highly recommend pulling over and coming to a stop if you meet a funeral procession. If you happen to be on a two lane road, it's not uncommon for family members in the procession to run you off the road for not stopping. Southerners take respect for their lost loved ones very seriously.

whitsend · 11-20-2009, 09:05 PM

In the Houston of the 1950's everyone, without exception, pulled over as a sign of respect for the deceased and family. During a funeral last year in Dallas, even with a police escort to the cemetery, quite a few people did not pull over. I think our society has just become less considerate / respectful of others.

nti06 · 11-20-2009, 09:20 PM

In my area of Georgia, pulling over may mean falling down and enbankment.
If the road is a 4 lane highway, move to the outermost lanes. Percession has the center of the highway.

TBRich · 11-20-2009, 09:40 PM

Pulling over and stopping was the expected, respectful and right thing to do where I was raised in Idaho...TB

Gene · 11-20-2009, 09:55 PM

I haven't seen a funeral procession in decades, but when I was growing up in NYC, they were quite common. A cop on a motorcycle would lead, stop traffic at intersections, and other cop at the rear would ride ahead to stop traffic at the next intersection. All the cars had their headlights on—today on a lot of cars you can't turn them off when the engine's running, so that confuses things.

It's obvious in part of the country, funeral processions still happen and people stop for them. I don't remember people stopping, they just didn't get in the way or cut into the line.

Funerals seem a lot less formal today and it's not necessary to have a black suit or dress, but I see no less respect despite different customs.

Gene

Fyrzowt · 11-20-2009, 10:02 PM

Even out here in the land of weirdos you will see folks pull over for a funeral procession...not always, but it's not unusual. I live in a rural area, not sure how it is down in So-Cal.

Mikethefixit · 11-21-2009, 09:32 AM

Well I may be in trouble. I have never in my 55 yrs of driving ever pulled over when meeting a funeral procession. However I do have enough respect for others to pull over if being overtaken by a funeral procession or curiosity enough just to follow and not pass one. I will never cut a procession its just not done.

gail · 11-21-2009, 04:33 PM

Interseting and common sense would say to slow down if they were on the other side of the road. I never heard of stopping unless they were behind me and had a police escort. Also I am older now and in Calif people seem to be creamated more so not as many processions as I imagine in smaller towns.

Inland RV Center, In · 11-21-2009, 05:53 PM

It's not only polite, but standing back out of the way, for an unknown person, that is on their last ride.

A funeral procession and cemetary, should always be respected to the utmost.

To bad, that many visitors to the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, don't understand, to speak softly, and take their damn hats off, when they are on that Memorial.

Disrespect, galore. How very sad.

Andy

Fyrzowt · 11-21-2009, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

It's not only polite, but standing back out of the way, for an unknown person, that is on their last ride.

A funeral procession and cemetary, should always be respected to the utmost.

To bad, that many visitors to the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, don't understand, to speak softly, and take their damn hats off, when they are on that Memorial.

Disrespect, galore. How very sad.

Andy

I noticed the same thing last week while at the Alamo. There was even a sign on the door as a reminder...

garry · 11-22-2009, 07:27 AM

A lot of services are now held at a church or funeral home with no grave side service. It is difficult for people to take off work the length of time a full grave side service takes.

I was brought up to pull off the road as a means of respect.