Respect Funeral Processions
Respect Funeral Processions
Author
Discussion

The Mad Monk

Original Poster:

10,821 posts

135 months

Drivers are being asked to respect funeral processions and not cut up hearses.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gp04kqzdeo

greygoose

9,182 posts

213 months

Sad that such a reminder is needed.

Castrol for a knave

6,442 posts

109 months


To add positive, as the news and world is all st these days.

When my father in law died in May 2020, his cortege needed to join the side road onto the A38 Walsall Rd, just below the Scot Arms, in Birmingham. Two lanes either way - busy road

The traffic stopped and one particular car on the carriageway we were joining, straddled the two lanes to let us out. It was a properly barried black window 3 series with a couple of Asian lads in. They made sure we could get out and onto the nearest lane toward Perry Barr crem. We of course acknowledged the courtesy.

daqinggregg

5,190 posts

147 months

Outdated ritual, that causes a lot of unnecessary inconvenience.

In addition, just another way of rinsing the bereaved out of more money.

No reason why the departed can’t be transported in an appropriate vehicle van/estate car.

Mourners make their way to the location of departure under their own steam, less stress.

When I’m gone, I don’t give two hoots how I get to the crematorium, back of a truck, fine by me.

If you don’t mind can we cause the least inconvenience to those who might have somewhere to get to.

boyse7en

7,774 posts

183 months

Seems a shame that driver's should even need to be told.

About 20 years ago I had to go to an elderly aunt's funeral, which was in the Elephant & Castle, then the hearse and family cars drove to a cemetery in Leytonstone. On the trip across London we were let out on literally every T junction and roundabout. Some road workers on a flyover even stopped and doffed their hard hats as we drove past!
As a lad from the sticks, it was something I'd never experienced before.

Red9zero

9,655 posts

75 months

A very, very long time ago, when I was young and stupid, I was on my way to see my girlfriend down in Bath. I knew the road very well, so when I came round a corner and saw a line of cars in front of me on a decent straight I hammered my little Metro GTA past them. It was only when I was most of the way past I realised it was a funeral procession ! It was too late to do anything then, so I just kept going and really hoped I didn't get held up anywhere for them to catch up. Luckily I didn't !

A similarly long time ago I was working in London and got caught up in the traffic for Ronnie Kray's funeral. That was something to see, with even the traffic on the flyovers pulling over to watch. Needless to say, I didn't overtake that one laugh

Alex@POD

6,450 posts

233 months

The only issue I have with funeral processions is that past the first couple of cars, i.e. the hearse and the limo(s), you never know who is in the procession and who isn't.

I've done the same as a post above before, filtering through traffic only to see a hearse causing the delay... I don't think I went past it but I have no idea if I pulled in within the cortege or not...

Red9zero

9,655 posts

75 months

Alex@POD said:
The only issue I have with funeral processions is that past the first couple of cars, i.e. the hearse and the limo(s), you never know who is in the procession and who isn't.

I've done the same as a post above before, filtering through traffic only to see a hearse causing the delay... I don't think I went past it but I have no idea if I pulled in within the cortege or not...
It doesn't help that people are often are in casual dress, so when you stop to let the procession through, you don't know who is actually in it and who is just taking advantage of pulling out.

tr7v8

7,479 posts

246 months

MiL funeral the other week, one horse drawn, one hearse, 3 funeral cars, my Mitzy & a FFRR in the queue. Hazards & headlights on, no stopping for red lights or anything. I did Kender St onto the New Cross Road though! (SE London) Nothing from TfL so got away with it. Most were happy to give way to us although a few got excited, too bad. Quite a few taking photos of the horses from either cars, or motorbikes.

ambuletz

11,408 posts

199 months

Red9zero said:
Alex@POD said:
The only issue I have with funeral processions is that past the first couple of cars, i.e. the hearse and the limo(s), you never know who is in the procession and who isn't.

I've done the same as a post above before, filtering through traffic only to see a hearse causing the delay... I don't think I went past it but I have no idea if I pulled in within the cortege or not...
It doesn't help that people are often are in casual dress, so when you stop to let the procession through, you don't know who is actually in it and who is just taking advantage of pulling out.
One time I was cycling, came out of my (side) road onto a main road. I saw the procession go past and waited for them to pass, there was then no cars for 1/4 of a mile down so figured they had all passed so I decided to get onto the main road.
About a minute later as I was riding behind the procession (at a distance) the rest of the group had caught up, all just random cars. Queue abuse from one of them out their window saying I was being insensitive.

the tribester

2,775 posts

104 months

I always let the mourners out of the local crematorium exit onto the busy main road, figuring that they're already having a worse day than me.

Hoofy

78,940 posts

300 months

Castrol for a knave said:
To add positive, as the news and world is all st these days.

When my father in law died in May 2020, his cortege needed to join the side road onto the A38 Walsall Rd, just below the Scot Arms, in Birmingham. Two lanes either way - busy road

The traffic stopped and one particular car on the carriageway we were joining, straddled the two lanes to let us out. It was a properly barried black window 3 series with a couple of Asian lads in. They made sure we could get out and onto the nearest lane toward Perry Barr crem. We of course acknowledged the courtesy.
That's great to read, although I thought the sentence would end "with a burnout."

Hoofy

78,940 posts

300 months

Had similar when my dad died. A Corsa nipped in behind my dad's hearse on a roundabout. It was exactly like Inbetweeners. The scene, not the car styling.

Andy665

4,008 posts

246 months

daqinggregg said:
Outdated ritual, that causes a lot of unnecessary inconvenience.

In addition, just another way of rinsing the bereaved out of more money.

No reason why the departed can t be transported in an appropriate vehicle van/estate car.

Mourners make their way to the location of departure under their own steam, less stress.

When I m gone, I don t give two hoots how I get to the crematorium, back of a truck, fine by me.

If you don t mind can we cause the least inconvenience to those who might have somewhere to get to.
I doubt anyone will actually miss someone with a self-centred attitude like that

swisstoni

20,797 posts

297 months

I've asked to be left outside on bin day.

Sporky

9,232 posts

82 months

Andy665 said:
I doubt anyone will actually miss someone with a self-centred attitude like that
I'd say not wanting to disrupt other people is the very opposite of self-centred.

Its also possible to hold two views at the same time; one should be respectful of funeral processions, but the slow slog through busy areas is outdated and at odds with modern life.

My mum was very clear that her funeral shouldn't hold up traffic or otherwise disrupt anyone who was still alive. She was anything but self-centred.

miniman

28,723 posts

280 months

P675

542 posts

50 months

I live near a graveyard and it's a common complaint on the local FaceyB group, that kids put their fingers up and make mocking crying faces to the people in the funeral cars. Really awful and seemingly nobody can do anything about it.

While I wouldn't drop a gear and blast around a procession I would probably go past them on a dual carriageway.

WonkeyDonkey

2,512 posts

121 months

I've just never understood why they need to drive so slow.

There's a NSL single carriage way near me that leads to a crematorium and funeral processions insist on crawling along at 20mph. The tailbacks it creates is ridiculous and going a bit faster is hardly going to kill the person in the back is it?

hurstg01

3,102 posts

261 months

For my Nans Funeral a fair few years ago, the drive from her house to the crematorium was along a busy, hilly dual carriageway.

A convertible E-Type Jag, my Nans favourite car, went past us all going uphill and both the driver and passenger both doffed their caps and added a little 'Royal Wave' as they blew past us all

Some of the congregation hated it, those that knew of her love for the car thought it was great.

It was only on my grandads death bed did he admit he asked a guy who owned one locally to do it for her on her last trip

legend