Do you or dont you, and why or why not?

[cpbaby]

Ok, weird question, but here goes.

Do you(or dont you) pull off the side of the road when you meet a funeral procession and wait until they are all gone before going on your merry way?


Please let me know if you do or not, and if you are form the North or South.


I know its a weird question, but we were coming home from mattress shopping today and met a funeral procession. Of course I pulled over, as did the cars in front and behind me. All of a sudden WHOOSH!!!! a car speeds by. I didnt show respect for the funeral procession for yelling at that one car. Do people not do that anymore? Does it make a difference where you were brought up? I read somewhere where a person wrote in and asked why in the "southern" states people pulled over for funeral processions, so I am wondering if its a "Southern" thing.

[missymommy]

I am from the North and while I was never told to pull over...

My Mom told me that out of respect you should make sure that they don't get seperated. So if you are at an intersection you let all of them go at one time.

Mom also told me to never count the cars because it was bad luck.

I only ever recall being behind them though. I have never seen anyone on either side pull off the road.

[momof4inMi]

Originally posted by missymommy
I am from the North and while I was never told to pull over...

My Mom told me that out of respect you should make sure that they don't get seperated. So if you are at an intersection you let all of them go at one time.

Mom also told me to never count the cars because it was bad luck.

I only ever recall being behind them though. I have never seen anyone on either side pull off the road.

Same thing here

[Danny]

I am from the North and have always pulled over out of respect for the mourners. here the cars drive with their lights on during the procession - is that the case in other states too?

[moe265]

I am from Texas and that's how I was raised. You always pull over out of respect - and yes the procession has their lights on here too.

[jayhawkfan]

Im from KS and we always pull over. In fact the police here in my town stop traffic for funeral processions.

[Dragonfairie]

Originally posted by moe265
I am from Texas and that's how I was raised. You always pull over out of respect - and yes the procession has their lights on here too.

Me too, I think anymore most people just don't care, most the time they don't even give right away to emergency vehicles.

[Ashlee]

I am from the South and to not pull over is a sign of disrespect around here. No offense to anyone who wasnt raised that away.

[mpmyers]

I always pull over and say a little prayer for the family left behind.

[juliegirl78]

I'm from the South... We always pull over and cars in the procession have their lights on.

[ckerr4]

Originally posted by jayhawkfan
Im from KS and we always pull over. In fact the police here in my town stop traffic for funeral processions.

I'm from Texas, and they did that for my husband's grandma's funeral.

We all pull over, and the cares always have their lights on too.

[Ashlee]

Originally posted by honeybear39429
I am from the South (Mississippi) and always pull over. Its a sign of respect.

Kewl! I didnt know u were from Mississippi too!

[Moonmama]

I am from the North(Pacific NW) and we ALWAYS pull over for a funeral procession. At least that is the way I was taught.

[seawinds]

Pull over for respect,and also say a prayer...and I`m in the south,born in North Carolina....

[odyssey]

yes I pull to the side. Normally the police do block interesections for the larger processions.

it is respect and so that the cars can stay together.
the cars usually have a funeral sticker tagged on them, driver side in orange or yellow with head lights on.

I am from the west coast down south. California.:)

[Danny]

A little variation on the funeral procession theme - I have known some processions to pass the deceased's home, place of business, clubs and other places that were important to him (her) in life. Then they went on to the cemetary for burial. Is that just a local thing or has anyone else heard of it being done?

[adair]

Yes, I pull over for a funeral procession. If I am out of my car and a procession goes past, I will lower my head and place my hand over my heart in recognition. I was born and raised in Kentucky.

[cpbaby]

Yes, all cars in the procession have their lights on here, also. Thats how we know when they are past.


Now, everyone does realize I am talking about when you MEET the procession on the road? And, Baby_froggy, my mother would beat me black and blue if I thought I was in such a hurry that I had to pass a funeral procession. Im not saying you are wrong, just that Id be DEAD, and Im 34 yrs old.

[Tadbit]

Originally posted by jayhawkfan
Im from KS and we always pull over. In fact the police here in my town stop traffic for funeral processions.
Ditto, but I have never heard about not counting the cars because of bad luck. hmmm, I'll have to think about that one.

[mrs.john]

This very thing happened to me today. A funeral procession went by, so I pulled over. The lady behind me was p!ssed. She passed me and flipped me the bird! I was so ticked! I think about b!tched about that the remaining 45 minutes of our trip. I'm 30 and she was probably twice my age--people always say younger people are disrespectful. And I'm in Ohio.

[schsa]

Here we pull over. Generally there is a police escort and I consider it only respectful to do so. Everyone waits until the last car with lights goes by and then we start out again.

[MrsSpeed]

Originally posted by jayhawkfan
Im from KS and we always pull over. In fact the police here in my town stop traffic for funeral processions.

I grew up in Kansas, live in Missouri now. We always pull over and police usually lead the processions. I've also seen men take their hats off when the procession goes by.

[cpbaby]

My mom says when she was a child that when they met a funeral procession, her father would stop the car and they would all get out, turn their backs to the road, and bow their heads. Of course, the men would remove their hats.


I still think pulling over is a sign of respect.

[peaceluver]

I am from IL and we were taught to pull over. I thought that this was a passing tradition until yesterday. Everyone pulled over when we where on the way to my grandmothers funeral. I was very moved by all the respect we received.

[cpbaby]

{{{{{peaceluver}}}}}

[nonda]

I'm from Oklahoma, and I pull over for funeral processions. That is the way I was taught......

[denisemm]

OK, I'm confused!!
Do you mean if they are going the opposite direction on the road you pull over? Or if they come up behind you you pull over? Or if you come up behind them you don't pass?

I was born in So.Cal., and raised in AZ. I was never taught that you should pull over, but I was taught that the procession is to stay together, so if half the cars are through the intersection & the light changes, you wait anyway until they are all through so they can stay together. There is usually a police escort at the end of the procession, and they have their headlights on, so you know they are all together.

I don't think them coming up behind you would be an issue, because they are usually going kind of slower, but if it were to happen I would pull over. And if I came up behing them, even if it was a 2 or 3 lane road, I wouldn't pass, just to be respectful.
However, if you mean that if you are going the opposite direction you are supposed to pull over, I've never heard that. Not that I've ever passed one, so its just never come up for me. I would probably pull over if other cars pulled over (even just of one did), but if no one did, I probably wouldn't. Unless it was only one lane each direction, then I would, but here most streets are at least 2 or 3 lanes each direction.

I guess its just never come up for me, I've never seen one out anywhere. Interesting question.

[justinenycole26]

I live in South Florida and I am amazed practically every day at people around here, they don't even pull over for ambulances and fire trucks. let alone funeral processions. I was taught to pull over and turn my lights on.

[cpbaby]

Originally posted by justinenycole26
I was taught to pull over and turn my lights on.


You know what? I was too. MAN, I hadnt seen one in so long I completly forgot to turn my lights on. :rolleyes: DUH!


Denisemm, I mean if you are traveling East and the funeral procession is coming towards you traveling west, when you see it, you pull off on the edge of the road, turn your lights on, bow your head and say a little prayer for the deceased. You can pull back onto the road and go on your mery way after the entire procession has passed. My mom says its a way to show respect for the dead. I just wondered if it was something alot of people did or just hick me.

[mesue]

There are 2 states where it is the law to pull over and Virginia is one of them and yes we all turn on our lights if we are a part of the funeral procession. My daughter was hit by someone who was driving too fast behind her she had already pulled to the side of the road and stopped and was leaning over turning the radio off when the impact came it messed her back up and she still has pain because of it.

[shelhop]

From Michigan and always pull over...

[FreeIs4Me]

Originally posted by baby_froggy_69
Well if you're meeting them at an intersection then you'd have to wait til the procession is all the way through the intersection before crossing or turning unless you're turning away from the direction they're going in.
If you're driving down the street and come up behind them then no, we're not supposed to pull over if it's on a 1 lane street. We have to follow them, but if you come up behind one on a street with more than 1 lane in each direction then you're supposed to pass it on the left.
The procession is supposed to stay in the right hand lane unless they are making a left turn.
I go by what I was taught in the books when I was learning how to drive.

&

Well now that you explained the situation a little better, no I don't. Call me disrespectful, whatever you wanna call me, but I go by what I was taught which is Indiana law.
We're also not supposed to turn our headlights on unless we are IN the procession.


This is what we are taught in MA & RI. I have been in more than my share of processions & have NEVER seen anyone pullover who was coming in the opposite direction!

[cpbaby]

Freeis4Me, come to Kentucky and you will see it happen EVERYTIME. Im sure it would freak out someone who didnt know what was going on.

[julie_angel]

Originally posted by mpmyers
I always pull over and say a little prayer for the family left behind.

Same here, and I am from the Northeast. Although I have been in processions and been cut off and seperated more than a few times.

Edited to add that I have rarely seen people pull over, and certainly not on the highway, but I still say a prayer for the family/ loved ones.

[FreeIs4Me]

My dbf's Grandma was just recently in a procession & she was broadsided!! Thankfully she's OK & her passanger only broke her arm & bruised her leg, but the car was nearly totalled!

Around here, you're lucky to see people pull over for emergency vehicles & school buses coming in the opposite direction - nevermind add a funeral procession to the list!

[bngomom]

I am from the south. I think this is done in smaller towns and not on main highways where it would be impossible. It is a gesture of respect for the deceased and their family.

[ocvachick]

In Virginia MOST people pull over and wait. Also turning their lights on too.

[dobiesnj]

I lived in New Jersey until I moved down south last year. I was always taught to pull over for a procession as well. In the year I've been down here, I have yet to see a funeral procession, but I'd still pull over, no matter what other people would do.

[mesue]

Originally posted by cpbaby
Freeis4Me, come to Kentucky and you will see it happen EVERYTIME. Im sure it would freak out someone who didnt know what was going on.

Is Kentucky the other state where it is the law if not it muct be Georgia?

[Angelseyes28]

Originally posted by Ashlee
I am from the South and to not pull over is a sign of disrespect around here. No offense to anyone who wasnt raised that away.

Same here...that is how I was raised and that is how my children will be raised:)

[DAVESBABYDOLL]

Here in Ohio, State troopers lead the way and tail, I pull over for respect, but here it's law..they will ticket you here.

when I lived in Ca..I don't remeber if anyone pulled over :confused: :rolleyes:

mesue it's the law here

[freebiegrl22]

I'm from Ohio and I always pull over. How disrespectful if you don't...heck, I thought it was a law

[MistyWolf]

Fromt he North here and we don't pull over, but funeral processions do have the right away .. if you are at a light, you wait.

A couple years ago a friends mom died and we were going to the funeral (had to drive via freeway) and were getting off the exit ramp and someone cut right into the procession and blew by us .. I thought it was totally rude and disrespectful. I actually think it should be illegal and that they should have gotten cited. Funeral processions also have their lights on as well as have flags from the funeral parlor that say "funeral" on them that stick to your car.

My mom would tell us the same thing about not counting the cars when I was a kid and to this day I don't do it.

[cpbaby]

Originally posted by mesue
Is Kentucky the other state where it is the law if not it muct be Georgia?



I dont think its a law here. Just a tradition I guess.

[~MK~]

Iowa..here's something for you..

When my grandpa died in 1999, the church was packed, no sitting room, chairs were out in the hallway by the doors outside the church..this was NOT a small church either by any means.

Anyhoo, there were over 250 cars in his procession..usually the public service officers lead it, but the SHERIFF did his. They were friends. Not to mention the other five cop cars.

Anyhoo to make a long story short, ppl got tired of waiting for over 250 cars to go by. They closed roads and such for his. They generally waited until the hearse and first few cars went by. I think for HUGE funerals that's ok.

Anyhow, here in Iowa, I pull over, most don't.

[julie_angel]

Originally posted by FreeIs4Me
My dbf's Grandma was just recently in a procession & she was broadsided!! Thankfully she's OK & her passanger only broke her arm & bruised her leg, but the car was nearly totalled!

Around here, you're lucky to see people pull over for emergency vehicles & school buses coming in the opposite direction - nevermind add a funeral procession to the list!

Same thing, well I am from RI so I guess we are very close. I am constantly screaming at people for not pulling over for ambulances or stopping for schoolbusses that are letting kids out. The only time I actually saw anyone pull over was for my friend Dennis's funeral, that was a few weeks ago (he was in the Station club fire in W.Warwick) and I think that was just because we were on side streets and the procession was SO long. Other than that, I have actually seen people cut off in front of hearsts! People around here either know nothing about respect or they just do not care.

[adair]

My mother died in 1998 and my son, my fiance, and I flew home. My fiance is from El Paso, TX. He was truly amazed when we made thr procession from the funeral home to the cemetery to see cars pulling off the road on a 4 lane road with a wide grass median. Had to explain that what he was witnessing was respect and that this was a common courtesy in KY.

[Merryg]

Am from San Antonio - not only is pulling over a courtesy, but so is bystanders on the street bowing their heads, removing baseball caps, making the sign of the cross. In my mom's side of the family, if possible, the hearse will drive by the deceased members home on the way to the cemetary. It's amazing to see the neighborhod come out to the curbside and bow their heads, wave and in case of a veteran - SALUTE!!! Respect is what it is all about.

[Mommy2Talon]

I'm from England and my hubby is from Florida....anyway we saw one on the opposite side of the road a few weeks back and 2 cars pulled over, and the rest all went passed them....us included, because we had no idea what was going on! - I have never heard of this before. I mean I can totally understand not passing if they are in the same lane, but I had no idea people pulled over when they are on the opposite side. We thought they were crazy......but now I see they were not.

[rain_cries]

I am from PA here and I have always been taught to pull over - funeral processions have their lights on and police escort to the grave site so that they are not stopped at redlights, etc.

[angelinwaiting]

Originally posted by juliegirl78
I'm from the South... We always pull over and cars in the procession have their lights on.








ditto here too

[Lilmom_3]

I was born and raised in East TN and we always pull over for funerals and I say little prayer for the family...

[mlathroum]

In Maryland I was taught if you can pull over you are to do it. But if you are in the left hand lane and can't just stay in your lane and do the regular speed. Do not even think of cutting in the line though.
Both of my husbands grandmothers have died since we have married. In both cases they were buried in cemetaries you had to travel a highway to get to. We have police escorts in front and back PLUS two motorcycle cops to stop traffic from entering our side of the highway until we were far past them.
Yes I also was taught it was bad luck to count the cars and I was told to find a button and hold it until the procession was past.

[Lora_1994]

Im in the middle(Illinois) but the southern part of the state(if that makes any difference..lol) and I have always pulled over. I do it out of respect for the deceased and their family.

[Thamlet]

My parents always pulled over out of respect and Ive always done the same. We pull over and wait until the last car passes by, indicated by the headlights, and Ive never noticed anyone around here that did not. (North Carolina)

[Princess4J]

I'M IN CALIFORNIA, AND WE HAVE ALWAYS
PULLED OVER FOR A FUNERAL
PROCESSION. WHEN WE WERE IN
VEGAS (DEC) WE WERE PART OF A FUNERAL
PROCESSION, WE WERE ON THE FREEWAY
MANY CARS MOVED OUT OF OUT WAY.

SO WE HAD THE MIDDLE LANE ALL TO OURSELVES.
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN A BIG TRUCK CUTS
RIGHT THROUGH. THIS GUY WAS IN THE SAME
LANE AS WE WERE ! I THINK THAT WAS
REALLY RUDE. BECAUSE HE SPEED UP,THEN CUT THROUGH.

HE WAS DRIVING FAST, HE WAS SO CLOSE
TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM. THEN HE
SWITCHED LANES AGAIN. I THINK THAT WAS UNCALLED FOR.

VERY DISRESPECTFUL.
YES I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER FOR THE FAMILY TOO.

[smeans]

im from kentucky and we always turn our headlights on and pull over to the side of the road as a sign of respect.

[nosamiam]

I live in IL and we don't do that here but in KY where my Dad's family is I know that the folks pull over and I think it is great! The last three funerals I have been to were in London KY so I know first hand.

[justbeachy]

Ditto!! I'm from the South and we always pull over for a funeral procession, the same as we do for a firetruck, ambulance or police car. It's a matter of respect!

[kelblend]

North--out of respect I pull over.

[MOMMYOF2BOYZ]

i always pull over for a funeral procession, police,ambulance and fire trucks too! i thought it was a law that you had to pull over for all of them