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29 October 2014
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Funeral processions - etiquette and the law

Sam Weller

Contrary to what you might have expected, funeral processions don't enjoy any privileges under the traffic regulations. They're expected to obey all the usual traffic rules.


In addition, funeral processions have no special rights of way on roundabouts or at traffic lights. There are no concessions to following vehicles that risk losing contact with the hearse or the car in front and not finding their way to the cemetery or crematorium.

The exception to the rule is when a cortege comes under police control. This happens if it's a very long procession or if it's moving slowly behind a horsedrawn hearse. In these cases the police have the authority to hold up traffic at lights, junctions or roundabouts.

There are special magnetic flags and signs that can be fixed to the roof of funeral cars so that they can spot each other, and so that other road users can see they're in a procession and hopefully not jump the queue. Special bollards and 'no parking' request signs are placed sometimes when a hearse or funeral car requires a parking space - but these are merely polite courtesy calls, with no force of law.

Etiquette isn't what it once was. People rarely stand still and doff their caps when a funeral passes nowadays - and other vehicles on the road tend to show more impatience than deference towards the cortege.

There remains, however, a tradition of 'walking' a cortege the first or last few yards of the procession, with the funeral director parading in front. On occasion, it's been known for this to be adapted as a method of keeping a procession together at a difficult road juncture.


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