I hate funeral processions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I still pull over for funeral processions that are not on divided highways. It’s a few minutes of my life to show respect. When my dad died, it really touched me seeing all the cars pulled over as we drove by. It’s not dangerous because law enforcement directs traffic at any stoplights.

Stop complaining.

Nope, this is false. They largely stopped offering that service because OF COURSE officers were killed and injured for this completely unnecessary practice.

Obviously I stop anyway and I do think police direction helps other drivers understand what’s happening at intersections but it’s not a good reason to put any officers at risk. It’s completely unnecessary.
https://www.change.org/p/city-of-tuscaloosa-keep-police-procession-escorts-discontinued

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I still pull over for funeral processions that are not on divided highways. It’s a few minutes of my life to show respect. When my dad died, it really touched me seeing all the cars pulled over as we drove by. It’s not dangerous because law enforcement directs traffic at any stoplights.

Stop complaining.

Nope, this is false. They largely stopped offering that service because OF COURSE officers were killed and injured for this completely unnecessary practice.

Obviously I stop anyway and I do think police direction helps other drivers understand what’s happening at intersections but it’s not a good reason to put any officers at risk. It’s completely unnecessary.
https://www.change.org/p/city-of-tuscaloosa-keep-police-procession-escorts-discontinued

Here’s another one

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/crime_police/article_1e59a4c0-57c2-11e9-b210-17c978b69976.amp.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is this a thing? It’s dangerous to have a bunch of cars running through lights. It makes no sense. Spoiler alert, the dead person can wait for you to get there.

I know it’s mean to complain because someone died, that’s why I’m doing it here.

I just need to get it off my chest. Unless random people are lining the streets to see your casket go by, you don’t need a funeral procession. Little tags on the mirror are not a good reason to suspend laws and risk lives.

Do you know what would be better? Have the hearse wait 20 minutes at the church so everyone can get to the cemetery and then have to wait around for your final fashionably late grand entrance.

Or, put everybody in a tour bus with the casket in the middle and see where people decide to sit.

Okay thank you.

Guess who else hates them? The people in them.

You're a selfish jerk, OP.

Have you ever attended a funeral of someone close? You don't seem to have a grasp of the actual logistics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is this a thing? It’s dangerous to have a bunch of cars running through lights. It makes no sense. Spoiler alert, the dead person can wait for you to get there.

I know it’s mean to complain because someone died, that’s why I’m doing it here.

I just need to get it off my chest. Unless random people are lining the streets to see your casket go by, you don’t need a funeral procession. Little tags on the mirror are not a good reason to suspend laws and risk lives.

Do you know what would be better? Have the hearse wait 20 minutes at the church so everyone can get to the cemetery and then have to wait around for your final fashionably late grand entrance.

Or, put everybody in a tour bus with the casket in the middle and see where people decide to sit.

Okay thank you.

Guess who else hates them? The people in them.

You're a selfish jerk, OP.

Have you ever attended a funeral of someone close? You don't seem to have a grasp of the actual logistics.

Why yes, I have attended funerals! I made it to the cemetery just fine using a map.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is this a thing? It’s dangerous to have a bunch of cars running through lights. It makes no sense. Spoiler alert, the dead person can wait for you to get there.

I know it’s mean to complain because someone died, that’s why I’m doing it here.

I just need to get it off my chest. Unless random people are lining the streets to see your casket go by, you don’t need a funeral procession. Little tags on the mirror are not a good reason to suspend laws and risk lives.

Do you know what would be better? Have the hearse wait 20 minutes at the church so everyone can get to the cemetery and then have to wait around for your final fashionably late grand entrance.

Or, put everybody in a tour bus with the casket in the middle and see where people decide to sit.

Okay thank you.

Guess who else hates them? The people in them.

You're a selfish jerk, OP.

Have you ever attended a funeral of someone close? You don't seem to have a grasp of the actual logistics.

Why yes, I have attended funerals! I made it to the cemetery just fine using a map.

I have also attended a funeral of close family in a town car following the hearse. The hearse went through and intersection and the light changed. We stopped! We did not miss the burial. We just got there 30 seconds later and everything was fine.

[Anonymous]

Where I grew up, people pull over on the side of the road, get out of their car, and if they are wearing a hat take it off, to show respect to a funeral procession.

WITW is wrong with you OP. Have some decency for people in grief.

+1

I was thinking the same thing. We were taught to stop walking and cars on the other side would pull over. It was never about getting to the cemetery. It was about respect.

[Anonymous]

I'm fine with stopping for them, because I am generally early to where I need to go, so it doesn't make me late.

However, I do agree that letting them drive through a light creates unnecessary traffic risks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm fine with stopping for them, because I am generally early to where I need to go, so it doesn't make me late.

However, I do agree that letting them drive through a light creates unnecessary traffic risks.

No one has suggested they’re not fine with stopping for them (also it’s legally required so it doesn’t matter whether people want to stop for them). It’s that they’re unsafe because they get strung out and people don’t realize what’s happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Where I grew up, people pull over on the side of the road, get out of their car, and if they are wearing a hat take it off, to show respect to a funeral procession.

WITW is wrong with you OP. Have some decency for people in grief.

+1

I was thinking the same thing. We were taught to stop walking and cars on the other side would pull over. It was never about getting to the cemetery. It was about respect.

Yes, this is OP, that is my whole point. I never said I wasn’t willing to stop for them OR be respectful. Not that it matters if people are “willing” because it’s legally required. The point is that people using this particular custom to prompt people to show respect is stupid. It’s stupid because it’s unsafe. It’s stupid because it’s unnecessary. There are dozens of better ways to get strangers to remember your loved one or reflect on the fleeting nature of life.

[Anonymous]

It's been a long time since I saw a funeral procession. They were more common 30 years ago. And it is an ancient tradition.

I generally agree there shouldn't be a procession allowing you to run red lights. Too dangerous. There's no need for it either. Everyone can find their way to the cemetery and regroup there. Do a procession around the cemetery grounds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's been a long time since I saw a funeral procession. They were more common 30 years ago. And it is an ancient tradition.

I generally agree there shouldn't be a procession allowing you to run red lights. Too dangerous. There's no need for it either. Everyone can find their way to the cemetery and regroup there. Do a procession around the cemetery grounds.

Ditto, you don’t see that much anymore. It made sense back then when there were lot less people in the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's been a long time since I saw a funeral procession. They were more common 30 years ago. And it is an ancient tradition.

I generally agree there shouldn't be a procession allowing you to run red lights. Too dangerous. There's no need for it either. Everyone can find their way to the cemetery and regroup there. Do a procession around the cemetery grounds.

Ditto, you don’t see that much anymore. It made sense back then when there were lot less people in the US.

Yeah I am realizing that I am hyper-sensitive to this issue because they DO seem to be common for whatever reason around the Ft Lincoln cemetery and the major intersections nearby which are especially bad places to have them.

Anyway I am so right and I will die on this hill.

The service program will be printed out Mapquest directions to the burial.

-OP

All of you people who assumed I was annoyed about the delay or disrespectful of the dead person are telling on yourselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's been a long time since I saw a funeral procession. They were more common 30 years ago. And it is an ancient tradition.

I generally agree there shouldn't be a procession allowing you to run red lights. Too dangerous. There's no need for it either. Everyone can find their way to the cemetery and regroup there. Do a procession around the cemetery grounds.

Ditto, you don’t see that much anymore. It made sense back then when there were lot less people in the US.

Lol, they have nothing to do with how many people there are. At one point we had flags on our cars to signal the procession. The last few that I've been in we all had our 4 ways going. In a city we were told to still obey traffic laws and the hearse driver did what he could to keep us together. For people like OP, common courtesy says you don't break up the procession. You pull over and let them pass whenever possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's been a long time since I saw a funeral procession. They were more common 30 years ago. And it is an ancient tradition.

I generally agree there shouldn't be a procession allowing you to run red lights. Too dangerous. There's no need for it either. Everyone can find their way to the cemetery and regroup there. Do a procession around the cemetery grounds.

Ditto, you don’t see that much anymore. It made sense back then when there were lot less people in the US.

Lol, they have nothing to do with how many people there are. At one point we had flags on our cars to signal the procession. The last few that I've been in we all had our 4 ways going. In a city we were told to still obey traffic laws and the hearse driver did what he could to keep us together. For people like OP, common courtesy says you don't break up the procession. You pull over and let them pass whenever possible.

The city told you that because they are dangerous. Because you still insisted on doing it, but without crossing reds (I think?), you probably led to more confusion. Someone sees the procession and tries to stop at a green, gets rear-ended. Etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's been a long time since I saw a funeral procession. They were more common 30 years ago. And it is an ancient tradition.

I generally agree there shouldn't be a procession allowing you to run red lights. Too dangerous. There's no need for it either. Everyone can find their way to the cemetery and regroup there. Do a procession around the cemetery grounds.

Ditto, you don’t see that much anymore. It made sense back then when there were lot less people in the US.

Yeah I am realizing that I am hyper-sensitive to this issue because they DO seem to be common for whatever reason around the Ft Lincoln cemetery and the major intersections nearby which are especially bad places to have them.

Anyway I am so right and I will die on this hill.

The service program will be printed out Mapquest directions to the burial.

-OP

All of you people who assumed I was annoyed about the delay or disrespectful of the dead person are telling on yourselves.

It wouldn’t be dangerous if other drivers had their attention on driving rather than their radio/phone/iPad/latte/whatever. You chose to get behind the wheel; it’s your responsibility. Slow down and look around. And stop texting.