For every concrete, written rule of the road, there is an unwritten protocol to go along with it. Anytime emergency vehicles are flashing their lights and blaring their sirens, pull over – a concrete rule. There’s an animal by the edge of the road, so a driver flashes their lights at whoever’s driving towards them in warning – a courtesy. So, where does a funeral procession fit into this scheme?
Universally, this practice, like other routines of the road, falls into the unwritten rule category and is more about decorum and respect than obeying any concrete safety regulation. But in some places it is also a law, depending on the state. So, what should you know about the policies concerning funeral processions?
Across the 50 states, not everyone requires drivers to pull over when a funeral procession is looking to pass by – and even within those states, policies differ. For example, Kentucky flat-out gives them the right of way at all intersections and allows them to run red lights and stop signs. In Louisiana, this can only happen for those led by a police escort.
In Georgia, the head of the procession is required to have a flag or some other distinguishing marker noting its place at the start of the line and all vehicles involved must have their headlights on. Meanwhile, Alabama as a whole does not have laws about processions but the city of Birmingham forbids cutting through the middle of one.
Differences are the primary similarities between all the official litigation concerning funeral processions. From state to state, drivers can expect to see lines of cars led by a vehicle waving funeral flags. But each state’s requirements vary. So, pulling over no matter what is a safe option.
On top of avoiding any legal issues, this policy is also a sign of respect for those in the procession, a way of silently acknowledging their grief, offering comfort, and making things just a little bit easier on that difficult day.
Throughout his career, which is nearing its 20th year, country music singer-songwriter Eric Church has…
She was an actress and singer of critical acclaim, who was the first woman to…
Unknown to fans, Rock ‘n’ Roll king Elvis Presley had an incognito car he used…
During a recent family vacation, actress Demi Moore made jaws drop with her bikini body…
UPDATED 5/2/2024 Pretty much everything about the 1960s was about change: music (The Beatles), movies…
Michael Richards made his first red carpet appearance for the first time in eight years…