Driving behind a Funeral etiquette

fryup

What should you do in that situation esp in a rural area on a country road?

Was behind one yesterday and was in two minds whether or not to overtake?

There was a number of mourners walking behind the hearse and i was a few cars behind them, was tempted to overtake but didn't even though i could have.

RIGHTisRIGHT

fryup wrote: »

What should you do in that situation esp in a rural area on a country road?

Was behind one yesterday and was in two minds whether or not to overtake?

There was a number of mourners walking behind the hearse and i was a few cars behind them, was tempted to overtake but didn't even though i could have.

A bit of respect I think you did the correct think.

kneemos

Blow em out of it.

Tigger

It expected that if you are driving the opposite direction that you stop and let the coffin pass you not you pass the coffin as well.
Just saying but these things are important to a lot of people

For example in Mayo

The legendary curse dated from 1951, the last time Mayo raised the Sam Maguire.

The story goes that while passing through Foxford on their victorious drive home the team neglected to pay proper respect to a funeral.

Enraged, a local priest cursed the team and the county that while any member of the team of ’51 lived, Mayo would never win an All Ireland final.

Kidchameleon

The streets are for the living

Duggy747

Rev the shíte out of the engine and shout "Come on, some of us are still alive here!!"

EndaHonesty

fryup wrote: »

What should you do in that situation esp in a rural area on a country road?

Was behind one yesterday and was in two minds whether or not to overtake?

There was a number of mourners walking behind the hearse and i was a few cars behind them, was tempted to overtake but didn't even though i could have.

Ask yourself, if it was your mother's funeral how would you like the other road users to behave?

That should give you the correct answer...

RGDATA!

If you have one of those La Cucaracha horns, now is the time not to sound it.

As much as it pisses me off its someones last ride so I take my time.
pull in and get a coffee or something.

Dr Turk Turkelton

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR6K0kWXtp4

Here ya go op for future reference.

Personally I wouldn't overtake, and generally if there's one coming towards me, as it closes in, I either stop or coast along at like 5km/h.

Pac1Man

Saw one on a motorway once. I was in the overtaking lane following a few cars. Some actually pulled in behind the slower funeral convoy so they didn't have to pass it. That's a bit extreme.

seamus

Just don't be an asshole about it. If it's just you and a hearse, overtake when it's safe to do so. If there's a line of cars then play it by ear, but much more than 3 cars and you'll find it hard to get a spot that's safe to overtake.

If you do get a chance, remember there are soft and squishy bodies walking behind the hearse, potentially children who may change direction suddenly, so give it plenty of room (at least 2m) and don't overtake at 60km/h.

Special Circumstances

Got caught behind one doing funeral procession pace. But no pedestrians. For 20 minutes.

Codology.

For those in the "what if it was you mother's funeral" camp.... what if it led to your mother's funeral because the ambulance carrying her was caught in a mile tailback on a country road?

I don't really mind a short distance at that pace with actual pedestrians on the street, or a brief slow down passing the deceased's house or favourite place.

But miles and miles of it? Are there any other redundant traditions or superstitions we should revive? Should surviving wives be strangled and sent to the great beyond with the deceased? Animal sacrifice?

EndaHonesty

Special Circumstances wrote: »

Got caught behind one doing funeral procession pace. But no pedestrians. For 20 minutes.

Codology.

For those in the "what if it was you mother's funeral" camp.... what if it led to your mother's funeral because the ambulance carrying her was caught in a mile tailback on a country road?

I don't really mind a short distance at that pace with actual pedestrians on the street, or a brief slow down passing the deceased's house or favourite place.

But miles and miles of it? Are there any other redundant traditions or superstitions we should revive? Should surviving wives be strangled and sent to the great beyond with the deceased? Animal sacrifice?

What if it was on the M50 and they blocked all the lanes for 24hrs and cause a huge pile up that killed several thousand people?!!! :rolleyes:

Keep your feet on the ground fella, we're talking about funerals in the real world, not your imagination!

JustShon

Kidchameleon wrote: »

The streets are for the living

Yes and the relatives of the deceased, who are still living and attending the funeral, are the ones the respect ought to be shown to.

smash

The obvious choice is to engage launch control and overtake the inconsiderate gits.

El_Duderino 09

EndaHonesty wrote:

Ask yourself, if it was your mother's funeral how would you like the other road users to behave?

EndaHonesty wrote:

That should give you the correct answer...

Pass quietly and without making a fuss or a tale back, if it was my relative.

If you want to de facto, close off a road for a period of time, then the its your responsibility to notify drivers to take an alternative route.

Bit rich to commonder a piece of road without notice and get your knickers in a twist because everyone doesn't go along with it.

Totofan99

Jesus, there's a few very impatient people in here.

What's a few minutes? What exactly are you going to do with those few minutes that you might spare? Make a cup of tea?

As for the ambulance situation, people will pull in and let the ambulance go. People aren't stupid. Well, most.

smash

Totofan99 wrote: »

What's a few minutes? What exactly are you going to do with those few minutes that you might spare? Make a cup of tea?

Some people have places to be and things to do.

JustShon

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Pass quietly and without making a fuss

I second this. I don't think overtaking is necessarily rude but gunning the engine and roaring past the procession would be bad form.

Most funeral processions move pretty slowly so, if there's room and it's safe, quietly pull around them.

If you're the type to blare the ol' car radio I might be inclined to turn it down when near a funeral procession too.

scruff monkey

EndaHonesty wrote: »

Ask yourself, if it was your mother's funeral how would you like the other road users to behave?

That should give you the correct answer...

Within the rules of the road?

Akrasia

I was driving a motorbike once and came to some traffic lights so I filtered up through the stopped traffic to the junction. When I got there I saw a hearse so I stopped behind it, looked to my left and it was the lead car of a funeral procession staring out the window at me on my bright yellow motorbike.

LONGEST RED LIGHT EVER.

I turned right at that junction even though it wasn't where I was going

EndaHonesty

scruff monkey wrote: »

Within the rules of the road?

What a strange post...

duffman3833

funerals don't normally go slow pace for long as people aren't going to walk miles to graveyard, it will only be about a mile. there shouldn't be a reason to overtake unless it an emergency, shows respect for the grieving family and the deceased on their last ride. as others mentioned, whats a few min longer going to do.

smash

duffman3833 wrote: »

funerals don't normally go slow pace for long as people aren't going to walk miles to graveyard, it will only be about a mile. there shouldn't be a reason to overtake unless it an emergency, shows respect for the grieving family and the deceased on their last ride. as others mentioned, whats a few min longer going to do.

That mile, can take nearly half an hour!

EndaHonesty

smash wrote: »

That mile, can take nearly half an hour!

ZOMG! :rolleyes:

Malcolm600f

No written rule what to do it all comes down to manners and respect..
Personally I would never pass a funeral in fact the thought of doing it is rather cringe worthy.
Funeral coming the opposite direction if people are walking behind it i will pull over if safe or pass slowly ,if no people walking jut go past as normal..

But guess each and everyone to their own , but a little respect and manners goes along way,...

Dirty Dingus McGee

Kidchameleon wrote: »

The streets are for the living

Show some respect for this coffin filled with bricks representing a young man lost at sea.

wexandproud

wouldn't dream of overtaking a funeral and if i meet one i always stop and wait till at least the first dozen or so cars are gone by then proceed slowly till last of cars are past .
was out with a group of cyclists one day and met a funeral so i insisted the group stopped but a few kept going , as the chief mourners past i happened to make eye contact with one of them and she just slightly nodded in appreciation so i nodded back and blessed myself { im not overly religious} the lady just nodded back and it was a nice moment.. it just seemed the right thing to do

The Backwards Man

smash wrote: »

Some people have places to be and things to do.

The graveyards are full of people with things to do and places to be.

Cantona's Collars

Witnessed a guy before Xmas honking away then I copped he was in traffic behind a funeral,I wouldn't mind but in about a minute or so the funeral had moved on out of his way.An asshole of the highest order.
Usually in a town there's always another street you can turn off onto to bypass a funeral if you're in a hurry.

gifted

Getting a lift up to Galway years ago from Cork, left early and fell asleep in the back seat, couple of hours later woke up and saw a hearse with a coffin overtaking us, jesus but did we laugh in the car, we weren't going slow either 😅

haveringchick

smash wrote: »

Some people have places to be and things to do.

Then rev your engine impatiently while overtaking in an erratic manner and giving the mourners the middle finger
The parents of that dead child will just have to accept that your need to be in Tescos trumps their need for one last slow stroll with their child
Because your needs always, always trump EVERYBODY else's.
Don't they?

haveringchick

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

Show some respect for this coffin filled with bricks representing a young man lost at sea.

God bless Marg Simpson

kylith

EndaHonesty wrote: »

Ask yourself, if it was your mother's funeral how would you like the other road users to behave?

That should give you the correct answer...

My mother hates people who cause obstructions on the road and impinge on other people's progress.

Rubberchikken

what i'm assuming are tongue in cheek answers made me laugh, but, op you did the right thing.
i'm in no way religious, but it's a funeral. no one is ever behind them 'forever'.

The Backwards Man

kylith wrote: »

My mother hates people who cause obstructions on the road and impinge on other people's progress.

A nice lady to encounter at the scene of a RTC.

cajonlardo

A few of us were cycling one morning.

As we came to a cross roads a funeral approached. My mate signaled us to stop and he removed his helmet and bowed his head until the hearse had passed. When we got going I commented to him that it was a decent course of action. " Ah" he said " After being married to her for 25 years, I thought she deserved it ..."

brooke 2

kylith wrote: »

My mother hates people who cause obstructions on the road and impinge on other people's progress.

Guess it's true that 'what's in the cat is in the kitten'!!

leahyl

Duggy747 wrote: »

Rev the shíte out of the engine and shout "Come on, some of us are still alive here!!"

I'm actually in hysterics here, that is hilarious!:D

wexandproud

cajonlardo wrote: »

A few of us were cycling one morning.

As we came to a cross roads a funeral approached. My mate signaled us to stop and he removed his helmet and bowed his head until the hearse had passed. When we got going I commented to him that it was a decent course of action. " Ah" he said " After being married to her for 25 years, I thought she deserved it ..."

heard a yarn years ago like this but it was told about two guys sitting fishing on a riverbank and on seeing a funeral approaching one goes and stands solemnly beside the road .. you know the rest

The Backwards Man

I might be wrong, but I don't think it's a real story.

JustShon

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I might be wrong, but I don't think it's a real story.

But why would someone lie on the internet? :eek:

wexandproud

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I might be wrong, but I don't think it's a real story.

funny you should say that but i was suspicious when i heard the guy got up and left his fishing rod unattended

Hunter456

if it was member of your family i would do the respectful thing so i should expect you to do the same, its respect to the family at that sad time.

Special Circumstances

Hunter456 wrote: »

if it was member of your family i would do the respectful thing so i should expect you to do the same, its respect to the family at that sad time.

I expect a few egg sandwich triangles and a cup a tae at least if I'm gonna be force to partake!

homerjay2005

fryup wrote: »

What should you do in that situation esp in a rural area on a country road?

Was behind one yesterday and was in two minds whether or not to overtake?

There was a number of mourners walking behind the hearse and i was a few cars behind them, was tempted to overtake but didn't even though i could have.

i saw somebody overtake a funeral on a country road once and it was one of the most disrespectful things ive ever seen.

the family of the deceased ended up seeing him coming and pulled out to stop him, but he ignored them and started beeping and doing everything he could to pass it out.

it ended up with the herse pulled in, the family out going mental at your man and it was horrible to watch.

MrMorooka

I don't understand, what is offensive about driving past a funeral cavalcade? I was genuinely not aware it was considered disrespectful by some. I don't drive, but if I did, I would probably just overtake when it was practical to do so, obviously not gunning the engine, and if I was coming the opposite direction I would just continue driving on without a second thought. Don't understand why people would be compelled to stop.

Thanks for the eye-opening thread, I guess.

El_Duderino 09

homerjay2005 wrote:

i saw somebody overtake a funeral on a country road once and it was one of the most disrespectful things ive ever seen.

homerjay2005 wrote:

the family of the deceased ended up seeing him coming and pulled out to stop him, but he ignored them and started beeping and doing everything he could to pass it out.

I've been a family member, following the funeral and a remember having too much to think about to bother measuring the respect shown by passing motorists who had nothing to do with the funeral.

It's a strange convention that respect is measured by not overtaking the funeral party.

Malari

MrMorooka wrote: »

I don't understand, what is offensive about driving past a funeral cavalcade? I was genuinely not aware it was considered disrespectful by some. I don't drive, but if I did, I would probably just overtake when it was practical to do so, obviously not gunning the engine, and if I was coming the opposite direction I would just continue driving on without a second thought. Don't understand why people would be compelled to stop.

Thanks for the eye-opening thread, I guess.

Me too. It never occurred to me at all before. I'd have thought travelling along with the procession would be considered more odd if you were a complete stranger.