DriveSmartBC - Funeral Processions

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This is a column on etiquette and consideration for others that has little to do with safety, and everything to do with respect. I was asked to write on the subject of funeral processions by the friend of a family whose members were upset at the lack of thought shown by other drivers entering and leaving the procession to the cemetery.

The Motor Vehicle Act grants the power to a municipality to regulate and control processions on highways within the municipality. A check with the municipalities near where I live revealed no rules in their current traffic by-laws regarding a funeral procession.

Further, the Motor Vehicle Act exempts the driver of a motor vehicle in a funeral procession from the requirement to leave sufficient space between his or her vehicle and another vehicle to enable a vehicle to enter and occupy that space without danger.

In past, the line of slow moving traffic with headlights on was readily identifiable, even if you didn’t see the hearse or family limousine. Today daytime running lights make it more difficult to recognize a funeral procession. A driver may have to watch and consider a bit more than usual, then politely wait a few moments while the procession passes by. It’s a small price to pay for the same consideration if you ever find yourself in the family limousine one day.

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This post reminded me of something very odd I witnessed a few months ago. There was a funeral procession travelling down Nanaimo Street here in Vancouver, the lead limo had flashing purple strobes on and proceeded to pull slightly over in the middle intersection of Nanaimo/Grandview Highway blocking Grandview Highway traffic while the rest of the funeral procession passed through even on a red light.

I'm aware of the purple strobes designating funeral vehicles but I'm pretty sure funeral procession vehicles do not have the power to obstruct traffic or to enter intersections on red lights/ignore traffic laws like emergency vehicles, or am I wrong.