Oddly - a cop leading a funeral procession (somewhere in Toronto today) smoked a pedestrian crossing the street.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Irony?
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Irony?
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Funeral Convoy: What to do?
- Thread starter jonpurdy
- Start date
RedDogDarren
Well-known member
Do your own research.
That sounds like the procession that I got stuck behind (and turned to avoid it).
Each cruiser would slam the gas (I could hear the engine even through my helmet and earplugs), accelerate to way faster than the limit, then quickly slow down near the beginning and wave the procession by, then slam the gas again and repeat.
About 15 years ago I failed my G driver's exam because of this very issue: two lane "highway" (70 Km), northern Ontario, gravel on either side of the road. As I am driving I see a bright silver light flashing behind me in the distance. It turned out to be an unmarked police cruiser. Examiner turns around in his seat and mumbles, "what the..." The cruiser was trailed by a long row of cars. They were clipping a long at a good pace, and as it got closer, it became evident that it was a funeral procession. The examiner turns to me and says, "You better pull over." I asked, "Onto the gravel?" The examiner said "yes." I did, the procession passed on by and I drove back to the test centre.
Examiner said I would have passed had I pulled over on my own. I told him that it seemed to me that even he didn't know the law - at least at first. No matter, fail.
I actually asked a cop a few days later and he told me I did not have to pull over as I was in the lead. Sucked it up and passed on the second exam.
Should have protested more at the time. Oh well.
Examiner said I would have passed had I pulled over on my own. I told him that it seemed to me that even he didn't know the law - at least at first. No matter, fail.
I actually asked a cop a few days later and he told me I did not have to pull over as I was in the lead. Sucked it up and passed on the second exam.
Should have protested more at the time. Oh well.
Griffin
Well-known member
It isn't a matter of politeness. It's a matter of law and good driving. Yielding the right of way to someone that isn't entitled to it causes confusion, irritation and mistakes. It's like the person at the 4 way stop that wants to be polite and let everyone else go that got there after them. It screws stuff up. Don't do that. It causes accidents.
If the funeral procession wanted people to be forced to stop for them, they should have gotten police escort. If they chose not to or couldn't afford to, too bad.
This isn't about respect for the dead. It's about following rules established for good traffic flow. And, if it is a police escorted funeral, you should stay out of the convoy. If the cops find that you've infiltrated it, they make take exception to it and accuse you of not following their directions. Besides which, if its escorted I think getting into it is a ****** move.
Good funeral directors will typically no longer use a procession with the hearse but will ask mourners to make their own way to the interment. At least in my experience. Even official funerals.
No, it isn't. And yes, they can. So long as a cop is in the intersection, everyone must obey their direction, regardless of the traffic lights or stop signs. And the other cops can wail right through. If there is no cop in the intersection the cops have to stop first before they can blow through, legally. Most barely slow down though.
It's not about respect for the dead, but rather respect for the living.
Griffin
Well-known member
Okay. I respect all the living drivers by not screwing them up by giving up mine and their rights of way needlessly. When I want to show respect to the mourners, I pull over, get out of my car or get off my bike and put my hand over my heart or salute if in uniform. Or I attend the funeral. Screwing up traffic is no way to pay respect to mourners or the dead.
A lot of people come from out of town and don't know their way around, easier if everyone is in a convoy.
Police escorts definitely cost significant money, it's not unreasonable to expect some people simply can't afford it. My mom does pay duty, I'll have to ask her the average fee if I remember.
I was talking to an EMS guy at a ride a few weeks ago and he was saying the police are minimizing escort duty. I was told the Highway of Heros ride was broken up into small groups and only the first group had an escort. Maybe someone can confirm.
ABadjusterrider_5
Well-known member
I can confirm. They were dispatching bikes in groups of 50 or so. Broke up the ride into packs. However police did shutdown the express lanes of the 401 for the ride. Left the DVP wide open though. All in all, a good ride
Tell that to the dead pedestrian who gave up her life for a dumb procession today.
...the one that apparently stepped out in front of moving traffic you mean? Tragic accident no doubt...and a dumb procession to you, but the last act of rememberence for someone else. Here's a clue...it's not all about you.
Last act of remembrance for multiple people in this case!
She stepped in front of a slow moving procession with a speeding cop in the next lane. No doubt a tragic accident. Was it worth it just so a procession could take place?
Its unnecessary. Theres no reason whatsoever to have funeral processions. They ALWAYS cause **** in traffic.
She stepped in front of a slow moving procession with a speeding cop in the next lane. No doubt a tragic accident. Was it worth it just so a procession could take place?
Its unnecessary. Theres no reason whatsoever to have funeral processions. They ALWAYS cause **** in traffic.
I agree..they always cause a delay in traffic movement......for all of 10 mins or so. I can spare 10 mins of my time to let someone pass their much more stressful and tragic day in a little more peace. In the grand scheme of things it's not really a lot to ask from anyone.
Im not talking about delays Im talking about accidents and near-misses.
Theres a reason that lots of police departments wont even offer escorts any more. Its unnecessarily obtrusive. Seriously whats the point? Is it part of the grieving process to follow each other in our cars from one place to the next? You have an address and a time, get there your own way. Its quicker and safer for all involved.
Theres a reason that lots of police departments wont even offer escorts any more. Its unnecessarily obtrusive. Seriously whats the point? Is it part of the grieving process to follow each other in our cars from one place to the next? You have an address and a time, get there your own way. Its quicker and safer for all involved.
Bang on.
I'll agree with you, jc100, that it really is not a lot to ask of one person to simply provide the courtesy of moving aside for an escort; but it's not simply one person. It's everyone on the road, and the number of people on road increases daily. So do the number of pedestrians. Sooner or later that little courtesy begins to create large disruptions, and as of recently, a death on the roads. Despite the pedestrian blindly walking into the street, it was a cruiser escorting a procession which hit her.
The ambiguity on how to address a situation like this while on the road says enough to the point that they are more troublesome and obstructive than anything else. All these exceptions and double standards drivers are expected to follow while on the roads are why we have such chaotic drivers. No one knows what the hell they are supposed to be doing, and people cry indecency and ignorance when they don't see subjective courtesies being made. KISS.
Griffin
Well-known member
You don't mind, that's your choice. Why should traffic come to a stop for a funeral? Why should the guy in the car behind me, on his way to visit his dying father have to waste ten minutes to pay respect to some drug gang shooter who beat his wife and abandoned his kids at age 5? Why should the woman trying to get to Sick Kids to visit her hospitalized kid have to needlessly waste time so that some greedy miserly bastard can have all his lodge mates follow his stiff to the burial ground? What about the guy in the SUV beside me that knew he could make it home before he had to pee until he had the bad luck to be caught by a funeral procession for someone he doesn't know or have any feelings for - and pisses his pants.
I realize not all dead people are *****. But many live ones are not ***** and time is precious to them. The dead guy is dead. If the family and loved ones want to celebrate the person's life and reflect on their relationship, they can do so without inflicting additional traffic woes on thousands of people. None of whom know the deceased and should not be forced to pay respects to someone that may not deserve any.
Have your funeral at the funeral home or wherever else you choose. Don't have it on a public thoroughfare. There is no need and it's self-absorbed.
Griffin
Well-known member
Oh, and FYI, in a medium sized town like say, Markham, fire trucks disrupting one intersection screws up engineered traffic flow for 20 - 30 minutes afterwards. Imagine the affect of a ten minute funeral.
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