Nakia Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Growing up, I learned you ALWAYS stop for a funeral procession out of respect, and I still do stop. I don't know if this is a southern thing or not. Anyway, we had my grandmother's funeral yesterday and only about half the cars stopped. I was just wondering if this is a dying southern tradition or if it's just a plain old dying tradition. Or maybe some have never done it. I don't know. I'm exhausted and I'm rambling, but I think you will get what I mean, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatCyndiGirl Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Yes! I pull over for funeral processions, firetrucks, ambulances and police cars with sirens and lights flashing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaners Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Very southern. I had never heard of it until I moved to Memphis. We never crossed a funeral procession in NY, but we never stopped for one heading in the other direction. I'm sorry about your grandmother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebug42 Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 I do but many around here do not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Yes, I do out of respect. Police officers here get upset if people don't, and they pull people over. I don't know if it is illegal if you don't stop, so I don't know if they give out tickets for it, but they are not happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebeccaS Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 :grouphug: I'm so sorry for your loss. :( I do stop for funeral processions. The last few funerals that I've been to had a police escort (motorcycle) where one policeman led and one stayed at the side and/or back to be sure that cars stopped to allow the procession to continue uninterrupted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsBasil Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Of course! I don't think it's a southern thing, I'm from the midwest and live in CO now. Most people stop. I'm sorry about your grandmother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy in Indy Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 I stop...and I grew up in Indiana. I was taught to pull over as a matter of respect. Just last week I attended the funeral of a dear friend. We had a long drive to the cemetery from the church...almost all the cars pulled off and waited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmvaughan4 Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Yes, I do. At DH's grandma's procession, I noticed construction workers removed their hats and stood by the road. I was so touched that they took the time to stop their work and pay their respects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 It's a law in most states: http://law.onecle.com/north-carolina/20-motor-vehicles/20-157.1.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinivanMom Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 I stop. I do think it is a southern thing to expect cars going both directions to stop and/or a police escort. What I could never figure out while living in the deep South was why folks on both sides stopped for buses and funeral processions (even if there was a median), but folks often ignored (or even cut off) ambulances and fire engines. That may have been a very local thing, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcgonczi Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Absolutely without a doubt I stop. It is just common decency. Of course lots of people don't have common decency these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakia Posted October 20, 2011 Author Share Posted October 20, 2011 Yes, I do. At DH's grandma's procession, I noticed construction workers removed their hats and stood by the road. I was so touched that they took the time to stop their work and pay their respects. Yes, I've seen that too! That is very nice. This was the first time I've noticed that many people did not stop and/or pull over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakia Posted October 20, 2011 Author Share Posted October 20, 2011 It's a law in most states:http://law.onecle.com/north-carolina/20-motor-vehicles/20-157.1.html I didn't know that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariannNOVA Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Yes! I pull over for funeral processions, firetrucks, ambulances and police cars with sirens and lights flashing. :iagree: and I turn off the radio until a funeral procession passes. I don't know why - my mom and grandmother used to do it -- I imagine it is out of respect.:confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaners Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 It's a law in most states:http://law.onecle.com/north-carolina/20-motor-vehicles/20-157.1.html The operator of a vehicle proceeding in the opposite direction as a funeral procession may yield to the funeral procession. If the operator chooses to yield to the procession, the operator must do so by reducing speed, or by stopping completely off the roadway when meeting the procession or while the procession passes, so that operators of other vehicles proceeding in the opposite direction of the procession can continue to travel without leaving their lane of traffic. But it says "may" and not "must" for people going in the opposite direction. I think she means that kind of traffic, not just cross traffic. Cross traffic must stop in most states. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Yes, I do out of respect. Police officers here get upset if people don't, and they pull people over. I don't know if it is illegal if you don't stop, so I don't know if they give out tickets for it, but they are not happy. In some places it is. I stop if I'm on a two lane road - either direction. If I'm on 4 or more lanes I will not pass one. I will stop if for some very strange reason they are going faster than I and want to pass. If I'm going the opposite direction I won't stop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoforjoy Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 I'm not sure? I won't get in the way of it or jump into the middle of it--like I'll wait at a light or stop sign if a funeral procession is going by, until the whole procession has finished, which seems to be what everybody here does. But, if one is coming in the other direction, I don't pull over until it passes unless everybody else is. I will pull over for an ambulance or police car with sirens on coming in the other direction, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 People used to do this here, but you know I can't remember last time I even saw a funeral procession. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Growing up, I learned you ALWAYS stop for a funeral procession out of respect, and I still do stop. I don't know if this is a southern thing or not. Anyway, we had my grandmother's funeral yesterday and only about half the cars stopped. I was just wondering if this is a dying southern tradition or if it's just a plain old dying tradition. Or maybe some have never done it. I don't know. I'm exhausted and I'm rambling, but I think you will get what I mean, lol. I was taught this by a midwesterner in the military. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennynd Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 I don't remeber I have see one ever since we move to NY. But in IN, most definitely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Yes, I always stop. I was taught this long before I was old enough to drive. Sorry about your grandma. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 I do, if at all possible. I also turn on my headlights; something my dad said you're supposed to do to show respect. However, around here it's a crapshoot. Some stop, many don't. I'm not sure what the law is, if there even is one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danestress Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 is that we no longer recognize funeral processions because so many cars have daytime running lights. Unless a police car leads the procession, I don't think people notice "hey, all those cars have their lights on - there must be a funeral." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoforjoy Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 I see them pretty frequently, I'd say maybe every other weekend when I'm out grocery shopping. But, I drive down a very major Detroit road to get to the grocery store, and there's lots of churches and funeral homes along it, so that's probably why. Some of the funeral processions are VERY long--just a few weeks ago I waited at a light for 15 minutes until the whole procession passed. And, thinking about it, that's the only road I've seen a funeral procession on for a very long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 is that we no longer recognize funeral processions because so many cars have daytime running lights. Unless a police car leads the procession, I don't think people notice "hey, all those cars have their lights on - there must be a funeral." I agree that this can be a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauracolumbus Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 We were taught to stop when I was in driver's ed training-back when I had my Model T. Laura So sorry to read about your grandmother's passing and the rudeness you experienced during this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennyD Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 (edited) I grew up in NJ and the convention was not to cut into a funeral procession, but I never even heard of the pulling-over thing until these boards. Way too much traffic, I'd think. I was in a funeral procession from lower Manhattan to Westchester when DH's grandmother died a few years ago and some people from my husband's family's business came out and stood on the sidewalk while we went by. My MIL still gets choked up when she remembers that. I'm so sorry about your grandmother. :grouphug::grouphug: Edited October 20, 2011 by JennyD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashfern Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 It's the law here in Georgia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanna Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 :grouphug: I'm so sorry for your loss. :( Yes, my condolences. The first time I ever encountered a funeral procession was here in RI. Now, I can't say I've ever noticed one where people pull over to make way for the procession. Usually I've seen them/been in them in one lane of traffic. They seem to all be long so if a procession is passing through an intersection, every car will continue to follow in the procession regardless of whether the traffic light is red or green so the vehicles that are traveling perpendicular to the procession have no choice but to wait till the procession goes through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 I'm so sorry, Nakia. Yes, BUT, with all of these daytime running lights in cars, unless they have their hazards on, also, I don't know it's a procession (unless I happen to see the hearse). Those red cards they have int he window shields also help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakia Posted October 20, 2011 Author Share Posted October 20, 2011 But it says "may" and not "must" for people going in the opposite direction. I think she means that kind of traffic, not just cross traffic. Cross traffic must stop in most states. Yes, thank you, I meant both kinds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 It's a law in most states:http://law.onecle.com/north-carolina/20-motor-vehicles/20-157.1.html (g) The operator of a vehicle proceeding in the opposite direction as a funeral procession may yield to the funeral procession. If the operator chooses to yield to the procession, the operator must do so by reducing speed, or by stopping completely off the roadway when meeting the procession or while the procession passes, so that operators of other vehicles proceeding in the opposite direction of the procession can continue to travel without leaving their lane of traffic. This is from your link above and it looks like it's the choice of the driver going in the opposite direction: they may yield, but they don't have to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Ohio law requires that you give all cars in a funeral procession the right of way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lang Syne Boardie Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 In my part of the midwest we all pull over. We have police escorts lead and follow our funeral processions, too, and family and close friends all have black flags on their cars. I guess we like to make it abundantly clear that its a funeral procession! I like the old custom where the men get out of the car and stand with hats off, hands on hearts as the procession passes. My husband and sons do that if there's enough of a shoulder on the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 I don't stop and I wouldn't consider it disrespectful if I was part of a funeral procession and others didn't stop. I think it's kind of dangerous to pull over to the side when other people may not be doing the same thing (unlike ambulance or police when everyone pulls over. And a funeral procession can take a long time to go past.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama2Many4 Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 I'm very sorry for the loss of your grandmother. I'm in Rhode Island and that's almost as far from the south as you can get! We stop for funeral processions. I've never seen anyone not stop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Absolutely without a doubt I stop. It is just common decency. Of course lots of people don't have common decency these days. Why is it considered common decency? It's a genuine question. I live in the south now, where funeral processions are done, but I don't recall ever even seeing one in the area where I grew up---I mean I saw hearses, but not the whole line of cars with their lights on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vettechmomof2 Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 yes. I am not southern though and have always done this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeeBeaks Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 I have never seen it done here, but then I don't see many. The one funeral I attended, people did not stop at all. People here are starting to not stop for fire and ambulance either. I stopped the other day (that was coming from behind me, my direction so I clearly needed to pull over) and people wouldn't let me back on the road for 5 minutes afterwards until I finally found a break in traffic. People floor the accelerator to ride the bumper of the ambulance as it triggers the lights to green so they can get through too. I see it daily. It's cut-throat on the roads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momofkhm Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Growing up, I learned you ALWAYS stop for a funeral procession out of respect, and I still do stop. I don't know if this is a southern thing or not. Anyway, we had my grandmother's funeral yesterday and only about half the cars stopped. I was just wondering if this is a dying southern tradition or if it's just a plain old dying tradition. Or maybe some have never done it. I don't know. I'm exhausted and I'm rambling, but I think you will get what I mean, lol. Mom and dad both grew up in MI. They taught me to stop. I still stop. And I will teach my kids to stop as well. I think part of the issue is figuring out that it is a funeral procession. They don't always get a police escort anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoforjoy Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Genuine question: Why should the cars on the opposite side of the road stop? I totally understand why you wouldn't cross in the middle of one or, even worse, turn so that you were driving right into the middle of one, but what is the reason for cars on the opposite side of the street stopping? With emergency vehicles with their sirens on, it's generally a safety matter: oftentimes I notice the emergency vehicles driving in the center of the road, and it's safer if everybody pulls over. But funeral processions generally stay in one lane and are not going fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Grew up in mid-west, we always stop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 In my part of the midwest we all pull over. We have police escorts lead and follow our funeral processions, too, and family and close friends all have black flags on their cars. I guess we like to make it abundantly clear that its a funeral procession! I like the old custom where the men get out of the car and stand with hats off, hands on hearts as the procession passes. My husband and sons do that if there's enough of a shoulder on the road. Oh, that sounds nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy101 Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Yes! I pull over for funeral processions, firetrucks, ambulances and police cars with sirens and lights flashing. Me too. And it really angers me when people don't. It wasn't until I read it here that I learned their are Americans who don't know to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoxcell Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 I don't think I have ever seen a funeral procession.:blush: I live in the PNW. Maybe they are not popular around here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatCyndiGirl Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Why is it considered common decency? It's a genuine question. I live in the south now, where funeral processions are done, but I don't recall ever even seeing one in the area where I grew up---I mean I saw hearses, but not the whole line of cars with their lights on. To acknowledge the gravity of the situation. To acknowledge that something out-of-the-ordinary and life-altering occurred. Out of respect. Because it is okay to slow down/stop to be respectful. I pull over for all of the reasons I previously stated and have never felt that it was unsafe. In fact, I feel that it is unsafe NOT to pull over when it is for fire/police/ambulance because they need to get where they are going quickly and I need to GET OUTTA THE WAY!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baseball mom Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Sorry about your grandmother :grouphug: Yes, pull over for a funeral, radio turned down and boys take caps off. When driving by funeral home during visitation or funeral the radio gets turned down and boys take off caps, out of repect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hwin Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 I have been taught to get out of the way so that the procession can stay together. That could mean pulling over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Well, I'm Canadian, and we do it here, so its not just a Southern thing at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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