I have a question.

Bonehead

Bonehead

Well-Known Member
Yesterday I was on Route 5 going north approaching Leonardtown and a funeral procession was headed in the opposite direction. Is it considered to be polite or correct to pull off the road ? I saw some vehicles do this and others keep on going. What is the right thing to do ?

Please just answer the question and swallow any snide remarks. Thanks in advance.
 
migtig

migtig

aka Mrs. Giant
I was taught that you pull over and turn on your lights and wait for the procession to go by. It's respectful and in Georgia (where I grew up) it's the law. Title 40, Section 40-6-76 of the Georgia code.
§ 40-6-76 - Funeral processions :: 2010 Georgia Code :: US Codes and Statutes :: US Law :: Justia

It's not the law in Maryland, all I could find is that a funeral procession has the right of way, but it's still respectful and a common curtesy.
Section 21-207 - Funeral processions. :: 2010 Maryland Code :: US Codes and Statutes :: US Law :: Justia
 
RoseRed

RoseRed

American Beauty
PREMO Member
kwillia said:
:yeahthat: There is no law stating you have to do it, it is out of respect for those in the funeral procession to pull over and offer a moment of your time recognize their loss.
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:yeahthat:

Some take more than just a moment...
 
Tomcat

Tomcat

Anytime
Years ago (when 235 was only 2 lanes etc.) everyone pulled over. The county has grown so fast, you don't see it as much anymore.
 
S

sm8

Active Member
Tomcat said:
Years ago (when 235 was only 2 lanes etc.) everyone pulled over. The county has grown so fast, you don't see it as much anymore.
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:yeahthat:

While I was one of the lead cars in my grandmothers procession a car almost t-boned us (when they were the ones who ran a stop sign).
 
S

SoMD_Fun_Guy

Do you like apples?
I think it also depends on what type of road you are travelling on.
2-lane - yes pull over.
Divided roadway (like 235) driving opposite side - no.

A while back I ended up merging into a funeral procession on the beltway without knowing it. There was about an 8 car-length gap between vehicles as I approached on the ramp and I merged in. I didn't know it was a procession cuz with all the traffic, none of the cars had the funeral flags on them but they did have lights on (many cars do now anyway). The guy I pulled in front of got pissed and flashed his hi-beams and actually flicked me off. It was a safe merge with my signal on and there was plenty of room so I couldn't figure out why he was mad until I made a lane change and realized it was a procession. I still don't know why he left such a large gap in front of him.

So, what's the "rule" for funeral processions on a major highway/Interstate?
 
S

SoMD_Fun_Guy

Do you like apples?
SoMDGirl42 said:
Don't merge into the funeral procession? :shrug:
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Ok, common sense answer - but it's not that easy. Especially if you can't tell it's a procession since they aren't driving close enough together and don't have the little flags on the hood. Some processions are long and you can't tell it's one cuz you can't see the hearse at the front. In my case, the guy I pulled in front of didn't have his hazard lights flashing either (I thought headlights and hazard lights on with the little flag was the norm). Besides, traffic in the passing lanes was moving right along like nothing was going on. It would have been different, if it was a police escorted procession and traffic was stopped. But from my viewpoint when driving up the ramp and trying to merge, it looked like typical beltway traffic. If I had know, I would have waited at the ramp.
 
Baja28

Baja28

Obama destroyed America
SoMD_Fun_Guy said:
Ok, common sense answer - but it's not that easy. Especially if you can't tell it's a procession since they aren't driving close enough together and don't have the little flags on the hood. Some processions are long and you can't tell it's one cuz you can't see the hearse at the front. In my case, the guy I pulled in front of didn't have his hazard lights flashing either (I thought headlights and hazard lights on with the little flag was the norm). Besides, traffic in the passing lanes was moving right along like nothing was going on. It would have been different, if it was a police escorted procession and traffic was stopped. But from my viewpoint when driving up the ramp and trying to merge, it looked like typical beltway traffic. If I had know, I would have waited at the ramp.
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You did the right thing. If people drove correctly there wouldn't have been a gap for you to pull into.

Also on an interstate, you can drive past.
 
Lurk

Lurk

Happy Creepy Ass Cracka
Baja28 said:
You did the right thing. If people drove correctly there wouldn't have been a gap for you to pull into.

Also on an interstate, you can drive past.
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But if people on the interstate don't leave a gap, people trying to get on the interstate will have to stop until some really long processions go by. That'll ensure there are lots of rear-ender collisions on the on ramp. People in the procession should show some respect and allow on-ramp traffic to get on the interstate, then get past them.
 
bcp

bcp

In My Opinion
Bonehead said:
Yesterday I was on Route 5 going north approaching Leonardtown and a funeral procession was headed in the opposite direction. Is it considered to be polite or correct to pull off the road ? I saw some vehicles do this and others keep on going. What is the right thing to do ?

Please just answer the question and swallow any snide remarks. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Hank said:
:lmao: You swallow?
Click to expand...

It does my heart good to watch true love blossom
 
my-thyme

my-thyme

..if momma ain't happy...
Patron
I had the sad occasion to be part of a funeral procession Saturday morning. It was heart warming to see so many cars pull over for us.

:howdy: Thanks!
 
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