Yes, Pull Over When You See A Funeral Procession: Here's Why

Jan 04, 2019 by apost team

It's the final ride for many of us: A procession from the funeral home or church to our final resting place. It's one of the saddest drives for family members who just lost their loved one.

Drivers who come across a funeral procession usually know to stop or pull over so the procession can proceed past them. But did you know that in some states not stopping or pulling over for a funeral procession can actually earn you a ticket?

We learn about the rules of the road during our five-hour course prior to receiving our license, but the topic of funeral processions is not something that's often talked about during these preparation classes. Instructors go over who has the right of way at a four-way stop, what to do at a yellow light, and how imperative it is to pull over for emergency vehicles- but how to handle a funeral procession is not usually something that's taught.

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Many of us just think it's proper etiquette to pull over and let a funeral procession pass. With or without police escorts, it's a sign of respect for those who have died.

What some of us may not know, however, is that in some states it's a requirement by law to pull over or stop for a funeral procession. The procession doesn't have to be elaborate or include police escorts, either.

Two or more hearses qualifies as a funeral procession in many states, which means if you see a few coming towards you, it's in your best interest to pull over or stop so they can have the right of way. If you don't, you could end up in court having to plead your case- and not having respect for the dead isn't going to bode very well for you.

It's safe to say that pulling over for a funeral procession is your best bet- whether your state has laws regarding it or not. Not only will doing so help you avoid a potential ticket, you'll also be offering a sign of respect for those who have passed on.

If this information is surprising to you, be sure to inform your friends and family of the rules of the road when it comes to a funeral procession. It might just save one of them a ticket in the future.