USA CDL JOBS TRUCK DRIVER FORUM

I know this has nothing to do with trucking, and I probably shouldn't be posting it here but I wanted to share this with you. If you don't know I also run a limousine company in Texarkana, TX and I did a funeral procession yesterday, and I am curious as to what in the hell has happened to this country? Do people not have respect for others anymore? Do people not teach their children to show respect for funeral processions anymore? Is it toooo much for people to pull their butts over and remove their hats for a TOTAL of 3 mins when a funeral procession passes to show respect??? OBVIOUSLY NOT I would say UNDER 50% of people pulled to the side, and the ones that actually did show respect were almost getting ran over by RUDE, UN COUTH people that obviously have no respect for anyone. I counted 15 big trucks that didn't pull to the side, and some people were PASSING THE PROCESSION !!!! This is sad folks... really sad... No one should be in that big of a hurry to take 3 or 4 minutes to pull over and let a funeral procession pass... This really made me ill and I'm curious to see what everyone's thought is on this matter.. I pull to the side everytime, and remove my hat if im wearing one, and I would expect the same respect if my loved one passed away.... but thats just me..

Unfortunately the kids/people today have no respect for anyone or anything.

I've NEVER understood the reason WHY Funerary Processions seem to need to dominate the roads and WHY they seem to need Police escorts.
What's the rush to get to a Cemetery?
I've been in a couple of Funeral Processions and shall not do such again as I'll arrive separately at the Cemetery should I choose to attend.
I understand slowing or stopping for Emergency Vehicles (when/where applicable), Oversized Loads, School Buses (when/where required), Traffic Accidents/Wrecks, however I do not cease movement in every occurrence of the above.

I prefer, for one example, the style of Funeral Procession as of New Orleans, Mexico, South America, etc., and other cultures where these People are Celebrating.
Seems to me such is better than the style of morbid and melancholy as we have in this Country.
Mexico CELEBRATES The day of The DEAD every year with Festivities and Parades.
Somehow I do not see such Celebratory events working or becoming accepted here in the USA.

MY idea, for another example, of a Funeral Procession is everyone wanting to attend the Burial meet at a specified location (like a hill top, Desert, Beach or Mountain setting) at or near a specified time and all view the body upon a Pyre (wrapped in Hides or Blankets, etc.) whereupon it is, at the predetermined time, set on fire, or if near a Body of water, set adrift and on fire. This type ceremony is more in tune with Nature and of the older ways.
THIS then was the traditional way of the Natives of this Land or as depicted in Books specifically for Leaders.

--I've also never understood the recent need (in the 90s) of placing Bodies in air and water tight Coffins and then being additionally placed in Crypts or sealed cement sarcophagae so as not to pollute ground water or some related outrageous reasons--Earth to Earth, Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust does not occur for 100s if not then 1,000s of years.
I prefer a pine box 6'2" long by 3' at the widest point, put my body in it (preferably naked since I was BORN naked) and place it in a shallow grave and set it ablaze or cover it up, mark it or not, and continue with LIFE.

When my Father died in '06, WE had him cremated and scattered his Ashes in the Mountains of southern California and the Blue Ridge (Appalachian range) in North Carolina where he enjoyed in Life.

Its NOT meant for dominating the road... Its other human beings showing respect by pulling to the side because another human being just lost a loved one. I attended a Florida funeral procession once and it had a motorcycle escort.. and every time someone didn't pull to the side, they got pulled over and wrote a ticket as another motorcycle took that ones place.... I though that was awesome, disrespectful rude ass people DESERVE to be ticketed, and I applaud Florida for that.. I do not Know what other states do, but I know I live in Texas and for the most part, we show respect... this particular incident happened in Louisiana (Shreveport) ..

I know Florida doesn't play when that goes on. I know because I live in Florida.

..disrespectful rude ass people DESERVE to be ticketed.. That's interesting.
Of what does a person get ticketed?
It's not like passing a stopped school bus letting off children or running a red light or stop sign.

ScrewDriver2010 wrote:..disrespectful rude ass people DESERVE to be ticketed.. That's interesting.
Of what does a person get ticketed?
It's not like passing a stopped school bus letting off children or running a red light or stop sign.

Actually in some states it is failure to yeild to funeral procession. On this particular day i had a litle girl crying in the back my limo asking her daddy why people were not stopping, and that she would always stop to show respect... That is what SET ME OFF and set this post off.. When that litle girl said that threw her tears, you would have been better off pouring gas on me and setting me on fire....



The 2009 Florida Statutes

Title XXIII
MOTOR VEHICLES Chapter 316
STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL View Entire Chapter

316.1974 Funeral procession right-of-way and liability.--

(1) DEFINITIONS.--

(a) "Funeral director" and "funeral establishment" shall have the same meaning as set forth in s. 497.005.

(b) "Funeral procession" means two or more vehicles accompanying the body of a deceased person, or traveling to the church, chapel, or other location at which the funeral service is to be held, in the daylight hours, including a funeral lead vehicle or a funeral escort vehicle.

(c) "Funeral lead vehicle" means any authorized law enforcement or non-law enforcement motor vehicle properly equipped pursuant to subsection (2) or a funeral escort vehicle being used to lead and facilitate the movement of a funeral procession. A funeral hearse may serve as a funeral lead vehicle.

(d) "Funeral escort" means a person or entity that provides escort services for funeral processions, including law enforcement personnel and agencies.

(e) "Funeral escort vehicle" means any motor vehicle that is properly equipped pursuant to subsection (2) and which escorts a funeral procession.

(2) EQUIPMENT.--

(a) All non-law enforcement funeral escort vehicles and funeral lead vehicles shall be equipped with at least one lighted circulation lamp exhibiting an amber or purple light or lens visible under normal atmospheric conditions for a distance of 500 feet from the front of the vehicle. Flashing amber or purple lights may be used only when such vehicles are used in a funeral procession.

(b) Any law enforcement funeral escort vehicle may be equipped with red, blue, or amber flashing lights which meet the criteria established in paragraph (a).

(3) FUNERAL PROCESSION RIGHT-OF-WAY; FUNERAL ESCORT VEHICLES; FUNERAL LEAD VEHICLES.--

(a) Regardless of any traffic control device or right-of-way provisions prescribed by state or local ordinance, pedestrians and operators of all vehicles, except as stated in paragraph (c), shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle which is part of a funeral procession being led by a funeral escort vehicle or a funeral lead vehicle.

(b) When the funeral lead vehicle lawfully enters an intersection, either by reason of a traffic control device or at the direction of law enforcement personnel, the remaining vehicles in the funeral procession may follow through the intersection regardless of any traffic control devices or right-of-way provisions prescribed by state or local law.

(c) Funeral processions shall have the right-of-way at intersections regardless of traffic control devices, subject to the following conditions and exceptions:

1. Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession shall yield the right-of-way to an approaching emergency vehicle giving an audible or visible signal.

2. Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession shall yield the right-of-way when directed to do so by a police officer.

3. Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession must exercise due care when participating in a funeral procession.

(4) DRIVING IN PROCESSION.--

(a) All vehicles comprising a funeral procession shall follow the preceding vehicle in the funeral procession as closely as is practical and safe.

(b) Any ordinance, law, or regulation stating that motor vehicles shall be operated to allow sufficient space enabling any other vehicle to enter and occupy such space without danger shall not be applicable to vehicles in a funeral procession.

(c) Each vehicle which is part of a funeral procession shall have its headlights, either high or low beam, and tail lights lighted and may also use the flashing hazard lights if the vehicle is so equipped.

(5) LIABILITY.--

(a) Liability for any death, personal injury, or property damage suffered on or after October 1, 1997, by any person in a funeral procession shall not be imposed upon the funeral director or funeral establishment or their employees or agents unless such death, personal injury, or property damage is proximately caused by the negligent or intentional act of an employee or agent of the funeral director or funeral establishment.

(b) A funeral director, funeral establishment, funeral escort, or other participant that leads, organizes, or participates in a funeral procession in accordance with this section shall be presumed to have acted with reasonable care.

(c) Except for a grossly negligent or intentional act by a funeral director or funeral establishment, there shall be no liability on the part of a funeral director or funeral establishment for failing, on or after October 1, 1997, to use reasonable care in the planning or selection of the route to be followed by the funeral procession.

(6) VIOLATIONS.--A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable pursuant to chapter 318 as a nonmoving violation for infractions of subsection (2), a pedestrian violation for infractions of subsection (3), or as a moving violation for infractions of subsection (3) or subsection (4) if the infraction resulted from the operation of a vehicle.

North Carolina General Statutes.
Chapter 20: Motor Vehicles.

Article 3 - Motor Vehicle Act of 1937.

§ 20 157.1. Funeral processions.
(a) As used in this section, a "funeral procession" means two or more vehicles accompanying the remains of a deceased person, or traveling to the church, chapel, or other location at which the funeral services are to be held, in which the lead vehicle is either a State or local law enforcement vehicle, other vehicle designated by a law enforcement officer or the funeral director, or the lead vehicle displays a flashing amber or purple light, sign, pennant, flag, or other insignia furnished by a funeral home indicating a funeral procession.
(b) Each vehicle in the funeral procession shall be operated with its headlights illuminated, if so equipped, and its hazard warning signal lamps illuminated, if so equipped.
(c) The operator of the lead vehicle in a funeral procession shall comply with all traffic control signals, but when the lead vehicle in a funeral procession has progressed across an intersection in accordance with the traffic control sign or signal, or when directed to do so by a law enforcement officer or a designee of a law enforcement officer or the funeral director, or when the lead vehicle is a law enforcement vehicle which progresses across the intersection while giving appropriate warning by light or siren, all vehicles in the funeral procession may proceed through the intersection without stopping, except that the operator of each vehicle shall exercise reasonable care towards any other vehicle or pedestrian on the highway. An operator of a vehicle that is not part of the funeral procession shall not join the funeral procession for the purpose of securing the right of way granted by this subsection.
(d) Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession shall drive on the right hand side of the roadway and shall follow the vehicle ahead as closely as reasonable and prudent having due regard for speed and existing conditions.
(e) Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession shall yield the right of way to law enforcement vehicles, fire protection vehicles, rescue vehicles, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles giving appropriate warning signals by light or siren and shall yield the right of way when directed to do so by a law enforcement officer.
(f) Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession shall proceed at the posted minimum speed, except that the operator of such vehicle shall exercise reasonable care having due regard for speed and existing conditions.
(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.
(h) The operator of a vehicle proceeding in the same direction as a funeral procession shall not pass or attempt to pass the funeral procession, except that the operator of such a vehicle may pass a funeral procession when the highway has been marked for two or more lanes of moving traffic in the same direction of the funeral procession.
(i) An operator of a vehicle shall not knowingly drive between vehicles in a funeral procession by crossing their path unless directed to do so by a person authorized to direct traffic. When a funeral procession is proceeding through a steady or strobe beam stoplight emitting a red light as permitted by subsection (c), an operator of a vehicle that is not in the funeral procession shall not enter the intersection knowing a funeral procession is in progress, even if facing a steady or strobe beam stoplight emitting a green light, unless the operator can do so safely without crossing the path of the funeral procession.
(j) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent State or local law enforcement officers from escorting funeral processions in law enforcement vehicles.
(k) A violation of this section shall not constitute negligence per se.
(l) To the extent that a local government unit's ordinance is in direct conflict with any part of this statute, the ordinance shall control and prevail over the conflicting part.
(m) A violation of this section shall not be considered a moving violation for purposes of G.S. 58 36 65 or G.S. 58 36 75. (1999 441, s. 1.)
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Since 1937, NC has not observed any reason to incorporate any Road Rule/Law as have other States regarding Funeral processions.

The way I read it is that NC still observes yeilding, you just dont get fined if you dont, im sticking to my guns, yeild and show respect, every generation gets further and further away from respecting others and it makes me sick

I tend to agree about this generation and their lack of respect. That includes funerals, elders and people in general. Customer service has gone down the tubes. Have a good day all.