Driving behind a Funeral etiquette

The Sun King · 12-01-2016 07:42PM

Special Circumstances wrote: »

Have seen it in Limerick city too. Stop dead, excuse the pun, or pull over ASAP if possible. You wouldn't see them get out of the way of the emergency services as quick.

That's because they're afraid the horses drawing the carriage will get spooked and run out in front of their car...

haveringchick · 12-01-2016 07:57PM

smash wrote: »

What NEED does a funeral have to hold up traffic or for oncoming traffic to stop for them?

Traditionally in this part of the world, funerals move slowly
Do you honestly not know that?

KungPao · 12-01-2016 08:29PM

RGDATA! wrote: »

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

smash · 12-01-2016 08:31PM

haveringchick wrote: »

Traditionally in this part of the world, funerals move slowly
Do you honestly not know that?

First, they don't need to move as slow as they do. Second, oncoming traffic should not be affected by them.

Your previous post regarding dead babies, revving the car and rushing to tesco etc was just obnoxious. If you want to come to a crawl then do so, but don't expect that everyone else has to, and stop making up bullsh*t scenarios just to try validate your point.

Valetta · 12-01-2016 08:33PM

smash wrote: »

First, they don't need to move as slow as they do. Second, oncoming traffic should not be affected by them.

Your previous post regarding dead babies, revving the car and rushing to tesco etc was just obnoxious. If you want to come to a crawl then do so, but don't expect that everyone else has to, and stop making up bullsh*t scenarios just to try validate your point.

Why does there have to be a "need"?

wexandproud · 12-01-2016 08:38PM

cruizer101 wrote: »

It really is a strange tradition, that's not to say I don't respect it. However stopping or slowing down for a funeral coming towards you, that's a new one on me, is it a country thing.

Regarding doing what I would like others to do at my mothers funeral, I couldn't care less if people were to overtake, but I know people at other funerals do care so that doesn't make sense.

i wouldn't say its a country thing , its more of a respect thing . something which a lot of people seem to be lacking .

haveringchick · 12-01-2016 09:47PM

smash wrote: »

First, they don't need to move as slow as they do. Second, oncoming traffic should not be affected by them.

Your previous post regarding dead babies, revving the car and rushing to tesco etc was just obnoxious. If you want to come to a crawl then do so, but don't expect that everyone else has to, and stop making up bullsh*t scenarios just to try validate your point.

You really should lobby your TD to try to introduce a minimum speed for mourners walking behind a hearse as it seems to irritate you so much. Traffic signs could be erected on popular routes to graveyards, people like you could tip of Gardai as to breaches of the law by ringing in car regs, supported by evidence from your dashcam.
I mean, it's not as if you'll ever be old and bereaved or anything quite so utterly pathetic as that, is it?

smash · 12-01-2016 09:55PM

haveringchick wrote: »

You really should lobby your TD to try to introduce a minimum speed for mourners walking behind a hearse as it seems to irritate you so much
I mean, it's not as if you'll ever be old and bereaved or anything quite so utterly pathetic as that, is it?

Idiotic post is idiotic.

heldel00 · 12-01-2016 09:56PM

Pac1Man wrote: »

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.

My grand aunt died in Dublin years ago and I remember thinking "Jesus we'll never get to Laois at the rate."
Got out on to the motorway and didn't see her for dust! Undertaker actually had to wait at the house by himself until the rest of us got there!

haveringchick · 12-01-2016 09:59PM

smash wrote: »

Idiotic post is idiotic.

What does this even mean? Why have you edited out my helpful suggestion as to how your new law could be best applied?

TheChizler · 12-01-2016 10:00PM

wexandproud wrote: »

i wouldn't say its a country thing , its more of a respect thing . something which a lot of people seem to be lacking .

Handy to have these arbitrary rules of respect pointed out to the rest of us!

Titzon Toast · 12-01-2016 10:41PM

Has anyone here ever seen the Jackass episode were they were taking part in some Cannonball Run event across Europe I think it was? They came across a funeral procession, I was nearly behind the couch watching it.

wexandproud · 13-01-2016 12:22AM

TheChizler wrote: »

Handy to have these arbitrary rules of respect pointed out to the rest of us!

hope someone learns something from it , after all , respect is a light load to carry and if there was a bit more of it around life would be just that little bit better

Kiwi in IE · 13-01-2016 01:17AM

I really disliked the experience of walking behind hearse when I did it at the funeral of a close relative of OH's. Everyone stops on the side of the road and has a good gawk at you. Definitely don't want anything like to occur at my own funeral. There is also no chance that I would want to be walking down the road on public display in a complete state, if it was someone very close to me. Each to their own, but I think it's an awful tradition.

armaghlad · 13-01-2016 01:33AM

I like it, even if it is slightly odd. It's a nice show of solidarity to a family in mourning.

Special Circumstances · 13-01-2016 07:41AM

armaghlad wrote: »

I like it, even if it is slightly odd. It's a nice show of solidarity to a family in mourning.

Yes the traditional slipping of clutches to match the hearses special creeper gear.
There should at least be someone out walking if they are moving at that pace. Just don't get it if there's no one walking but they do that pace anyway.

roverrules · 13-01-2016 07:57AM

If there's a bit of hot totty among the mourners, follow it and gatecrash the afters. If nothing else it's a free feed.

El_Duderino 09 · 13-01-2016 09:29AM

Ah no, think about it. Its an arbitrary convention which people are telling you they never heard of. As for it beinga country thing, I bet it's more country than urban because it would work in a small village but you can't demand that kind of 'respect' on o connelly street.

I come from a small village and my mother would know when the funeral procession was likely to be happening. 'Sure Mrs Watzit died on Monday so the funeral would be on Wednesday. Mass is at 10 on a Wednesday but funerals are a bit late on Wednesdays because Tommy the undertaker likes a few pints on a Tuesday night. But Fr Trendy does Wednesday and he does a quick mass and there won't be too many sympathisers shaking hands after the mass so OBVIOUSLY the funeral will be passing through the village at 11.45.

It would take a fair bit of inside knowledge to know when to avoid a funeral.

It might have made sense to do it years ago when roads when roads a few horse drawn carts but it's an outdated convention now.

c_man · 13-01-2016 10:13AM

I can't believe people would actually overtake one.

seamus wrote: »

For some reason it's considered appropriate to down tools and basically join in with a funeral if you encounter one. It's bizarre.

Worked in a pub near a church once, we always had to close the curtains when a funeral procession was leaving. I dunno how widespread a thing that is but if you forgot to do so, boy did you hear about it :eek:

AudreyHepburn · 13-01-2016 10:20AM

You did the right thing OP, regardless of whether it was a rural or urban funeral.

It's about having sympathy and respect.

messrs · 13-01-2016 10:29AM

c_man wrote: »

I can't believe people would actually overtake one.

Worked in a pub near a church once, we always had to close the curtains when a funeral procession was leaving. I dunno how widespread a thing that is but if you forgot to do so, boy did you hear about it :eek:

My brother has a garage across from a church - they always know when the funeral is leaving and all lights get turned of and doors closed ect - until the funeral procession has passed

farmchoice · 13-01-2016 10:38AM

having read this thread i have been trying to picture what sort of person would overtake a funeral procession!!
now i appreciate that on boards there are a higher then normal percentage of people who are a bit ''different'', but still.

having thought about i think you would have to be an actual psychopath to be so lacking in normal human empathy as to consider passing out a moving funeral cortege

seamus · 13-01-2016 10:40AM

farmchoice wrote: »

having thought about i think you would have to be an actual psychopath to be so lacking in normal human empathy as to consider passing out a moving funeral cortege

Why?

What's the problem if you go past it quietly? Why would a mourning family give a single **** as to whether someone was overtaking a procession?

farmchoice · 13-01-2016 10:45AM

seamus wrote: »

Why?

What's the problem if you go past it quietly? Why would a mourning family give a single **** as to whether someone was overtaking a procession?

if you are over the age of 9 and you really don't know, if a lifetime of interacting with your fellow man in a civil society hasn't taught you instinctively why, then i doubt anything i say will make you understand.

Seanachai · 13-01-2016 10:49AM

I remember going to the funeral of a relative who was in a home in Enniscorthy in about 1991, the deceased was a cousin of my mother's. All six of us were packed into an 85' VW Passat, I don't think me or my brothers had ever met the man, my da possibly never met him either.

We were driving in the funeral cortege, snailing along for about five minutes and my da had two tapes in the car at the time, John Denver and The Pogues, so he puts on 'Fiesta' by The Pogues, ma was not impressed at first but then kind of had a smirk. Unless the funeral is of somebody who died young or tragically I don't get the whole solemn misery thing tbh. If I died with my boots on in my 70's they could stick me upright in the back of a twin-cam and drift down to the grave for all I care.

Pinch Flat · 13-01-2016 10:49AM

Each to their own I suppose. I've been in funeral processions - usually on foot, why someone would drive behind the hearse is beyond me. Unless it's miles from the church to the graveyard.

I would find it disrespectful To to pass one, but then again I've never been in some of the life or death situations by some of the previous posters that would require overtaking one.

seamus · 13-01-2016 10:51AM

farmchoice wrote: »

if you are over the age of 9 and you really don't know, if a lifetime of interacting with your fellow man in a civil society hasn't taught you instinctively why, then i doubt anything i say will make you understand.

So you don't know then. Is it "Tradition" or "just because"?

If you cannot explain something simple, then it's either not simple, or you don't understand it yourself.

El_Duderino 09 · 13-01-2016 10:52AM

farmchoice wrote:

if you are over the age of 9 and you really don't know, if a lifetime of interacting with your fellow man in a civil society hasn't taught you instinctively why, then i doubt anything i say will make you understand.

With respect, you're being completely naive to everything except the culture in a wgich you were raised. Is it not obvious to you that there shouldn't be a funeral procession to the graveyard burial because there should have been a sky burial as in Tebet? Or a cremation as in Japan? Have you not lived with your fellow man?

It's an arbitrary, culturally bound, social convention. No amount of living with your fellow man would teach you that. You have to he told.

Special Circumstances · 13-01-2016 11:00AM

Pinch Flat wrote: »

Each to their own I suppose. I've been in funeral processions - usually on foot, why someone would drive behind the hearse is beyond me. Unless it's miles from the church to the graveyard.

8.5km according to google maps. (at least.. I was lucky enough to be able to detour at that stage)
No pedestrians, just pedestrian pace, below first gear on any car. (except a hearse with special gearing, or a 4x4 with dual range box)

But shur we are all special snowflakes to be celebrated at any inconvenience both in life and in death. Especially in death, by means of traveling really slowly in convoy.

Maybe twas an old farmer who died and they wanted to give him once more chance to hold up the general public?

c_man · 13-01-2016 11:01AM

If I'm walking down the street and a funeral procession passes, I'll stop until the hearse passes. What do people here do?

Driving behind a Funeral etiquette

Comments