Proper Courtesy When You See a Funeral Procession
What Should I Do When I See a Funeral Procession Pass By?
Most of us have seen a funeral procession of cars going down the street. Typically it begins with a lead car, followed by a hearse, then vehicles containing family members of the deceased and any other relatives or mourners who are invited to accompany the family to the cemetery for the burial. All vehicles probably had their headlights on.
But how should the public react to the procession?
If you’re in your car, Minnesota law generally requires all vehicles, except emergency vehicles, to yield the right-of-way to a funeral procession when all its cars are in close formation with their headlights on. Drivers should safely move to the right and stop, or proceed through an intersection before stopping and remaining stopped until the procession passes.
If you’re walking on the sidewalk, it’s courteous to stop and remove your hat, or at least stop and respectfully recognize the procession, rather than ignore or simply stare at it.
A funeral procession is a final, organized farewell to the deceased. It's a structured process for the community to recognize that a member of their own has passed and a way for individuals to say goodbye and acknowledge the finality of death.
If you participated in a funeral procession, was public traffic respectful? Do you feel that they acknowledged your situation considerately, or does the public need more education on this topic?
