Funeral processions and traffic

Frank Black wrote: »

I came upon a funeral procession a few years ago, on the N52 I think it was between Tullamore and Birr. There were about 20 cars in a line doing around 40mph. I was trying to get to a meeting in Roscrea or somewhere at the time and I started to overtake the cars. A number of them started to beep at me and flash their lights. I ignored them and contintinued to overtake when I could.i
You don't have the right to take over a national secondary road for a funeral and demand that everyone else drives at 40mph.
I don't see anything wrong in what I did, though some of the people I overtook seemed to consider me an enormous prick judging by their gestures and expressions. I gave the more ignorant of them the fingers/wanker sign back, which was obviously childish but also immensely satisfying.

So there was a line of 20 cars which I assume were driving close behind each other and you chose to weave in and out of the line?

I've met drivers like that on the road, always in a hurry but really they are getting nowhere fast as you always meet them at the next junction.

shruikan2553

I dont mind a small delay for it but I could see why people could be annoyed if it was taking a long time and they had somewhere they need to be like pick up their kids or to get a flight somewhere. I would never plan something like that during rush hour, traffic is bad enough without adding that to it.

Frank Black

Strawberry Milkshake wrote: »

So there was a line of 20 cars which I assume were driving close behind each other and you chose to weave in and out of the line?

I've met drivers like that on the road, always in a hurry but really they are getting nowhere fast as you always meet them at the next junction.

Well, I got to my meeting on time, which I wouldn't have done if I'd driven at 40mph -so I've no idea what your point is.

Strawberry Milkshake wrote: »

So there was a line of 20 cars which I assume were driving close behind each other

That's illegal, but its grand cos its a funeral, right?

looking_around

I don't like it.
I don't see why it's necessary, there are other less disruptive ways to remember a person, you don't need to "walk" them to the cemetery.

People are busy, with 8 hour working days and normally a 2 hour commute, we don't need* anything else taking up what little free time we have.
People die every day. If they all had similar long slow walking processions, no one would get anywhere.

Frank Black wrote: »

Well, I got to my meeting on time, which I wouldn't have done if I'd driven at 40mph -so I've no idea what your point is.

My point is that if you travel at 60mph and somebody else travels at 40mph, you will get 5 miles up the road 90 seconds quicker. The probability is a procession of that size is not travelling too far so, if you were going to be late for your meeting, it was because you we're running late in the first place.

I've seen hearses travelling from the hospital along the main road and when they can they pull over to the left (if their journey is a long one). If the graveyard is not far up the road, it really isn't taking much time off your own journey.

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Strawberry Milkshake wrote: »

My point is that if you travel at 60mph and somebody else travels at 40mph, you will get 5 miles up the road 90 seconds quicker. The probability is a procession of that size is not travelling too far so, if you were going to be late for your meeting, it was because you we're running late in the first place.

I've seen hearses travelling from the hospital along the main road and when they can they pull over to the left (if their journey is a long one). If the graveyard is not far up the road, it really isn't taking much time off your own journey.

Convoys have a knock on effect to other road users. The old "you should have left earlier" argument is easily countered with "you shouldn't be driving at 40 miles an hour in a convoy"

If they want to drive at 40 miles an hour they should leave sufficient room to allow cars to overtaker them.

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Stereomaniac

Hate to break it to you, but if they want to drive at 40 mph, what are you going to do to stop them? You can't get pissed off at how people behave when burying their dead in all fairness.

Stereomaniac wrote: »

Hate to break it to you, but if they want to drive at 40 mph, what are you going to do to stop them? You can't get pissed off at how people behave when burying their dead in all fairness.

If they cause a 2 hour delay causing someone to miss a flight, we sure can
And as long as they don't get pissed off at being overtaken

Amirani

Stereomaniac wrote: »

You can't get pissed off at how people behave when burying their dead in all fairness.

Why not?

Red Pepper

I once had follow a hearse from Galway to Wicklow. He never went beyond 50mph. However when he joined the M50 at that speed it was mayhem, nearly caused a pile-up. I had to overtake the hearse to prevent a crash.
Dumb.

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NiallSparky wrote: »

Why not?

Because they have bigger problems than you being inconvienienced for a few minutes. Less being annoyed, more being grateful

looking_around

LexieOnRale wrote: »

Because they have bigger problems than you being inconvienienced for a few minutes. Less being annoyed, more being grateful

As has been stated, the inconvenience can be more than just being a little late.
What if you have to catch a flight to see your won poor family on their deathbed?

Point is, it's not necessary to slow down traffic to a crawl. It won't make their funeral any better or worse. And it's not necessary to "remember" the person this way.

If there's a charity walk, they're expected to get out of the way, ..why, just because it's a funeral, it's suddenly considered acceptable and ok?

Fred Swanson wrote: »

But as it is all in the name of religion the rule of law goes out the window.

Wtf has religion got to do with it?

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TMC99

Fred Swanson wrote: »

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- Even atheists' have to get buried/cremated

LexieOnRale wrote: »

Because they have bigger problems than you being inconvienienced for a few minutes. Less being annoyed, more being grateful

Do they - how do you know what problems other people have? Apart from that, is it such a deal if they get overtaken?

Grateful for what, being alive?

Stereomaniac wrote: »

Hate to break it to you, but if they want to drive at 40 mph, what are you going to do to stop them?

Nothing, I will just overtake them.

Stereomaniac wrote: »

You can't get pissed off at how people behave when burying their dead in all fairness.

Driving slowly isnt burying their dead.

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Fred Swanson wrote: »

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Atheists aren't immune to being inconsiderate arses.

ruthloss

seamus wrote: »

The people who complain the most about being held up are the ones who are least likely to have anywhere important they need to be.

....and also no one who will want to walk with them on their last journey.

Frank Black

Strawberry Milkshake wrote: »

My point is that if you travel at 60mph and somebody else travels at 40mph, you will get 5 miles up the road 90 seconds quicker. The probability is a procession of that size is not travelling too far .

Kilcormac was the next town and it was more than 10 miles away. Birr was further away again - not sure where they were going and wasn't going to sit behind them at 40mph to find out - some of us have work to get to.

Strawberry Milkshake wrote: »

so, if you were going to be late for your meeting, it was because you we're running late in the first place..

I wasn't late.
I would have been if I'd driven at 40mph though - are you having trouble understanding some simple concepts here?

Strawberry Milkshake wrote: »

I've seen hearses travelling from the hospital along the main road and when they can they pull over to the left (if their journey is a long one). If the graveyard is not far up the road, it really isn't taking much time off your own journey.

That's a nice story - thanks for sharing.

ruthloss wrote: »

....and also no one who will want to walk with them on their last journey.

They wouldn't have a walking procession

Frank Black wrote: »

Kilcormac was the next town and it was more than 10 miles away. Birr was further away again - not sure where they were going and wasn't going to sit behind them at 40mph to find out - some of us have work to get to.

I wasn't late.
I would have been if I'd driven at 40mph though - are you having trouble understanding some simple concepts here?

That's a nice story - thanks for sharing.

Tullamore to Rosscrea is 56km via n52. So would be 15 minutes time difference (give or take a minute or two) between your 60mph and 40mph. You didn't say you met them at Tullamore so distance and time reduces as you travel along.

If you would have been late if you reached your destination 15 minutes later (at most) then I suggest you plan your your journey times better to account for delays on the road.

Frank Black

Strawberry Milkshake wrote: »

If you would have been late if you reached your destination 15 minutes later (at most) then I suggest you plan your your journey times better to account for delays on the road.

Thanks for the suggestion Pops, but I think I'll continue with my current 'overtaking slow traffic' method, which has served me well up until now.