[MacosNerd]

I'm not sure this occurs in every state or just a few like Massachusetts but a funeral processions does not have to stop at red lights. They can keep on moving, and they generally go at a slow speed.

So with that said, I'm running in Boston, on this particularly dreary and drizzly day. I'm crossing a busy intersection with the light and I have the light in my favor. I nearly get tagged by this lady running the red light. I couldn't believe it. then a taxi nearly gets t-boned by another car, same thing, I eventually figure out that is probably a funeral procession. Yes they had their lights on, but so didn't 80% of other cars because of the weather conditions.

Why in the world do let funeral processions ignore traffic laws and put pedestrians, runners and other cars in danger. There's no way to differentiate a car in the middle of a procession. [/rant]

just my little rant after almost becoming a hood ornament.

[Dakar the Fourth]

Any processions I've seen have little flags on the car marking that they are in a funeral procession.

[RAILhead]

Cops take care of the processions at intersections here in Texas. Sounds like the Mass cops dropped the ball.

[MacosNerd]

No flags, no cops, no nothing. just a line of cars with their lights on, of course you didn't know it was a line of cars with the lights on because everyone else had their lights on.

[Chuckit]

It sounds like funeral processions are potentially a self-perpetuating practice.

BTW, a bit of Googling makes it sound like this may not by legal after all.

[sek929]

I've never heard of only having your lights on, all the processions I've seen the cars involved have their hazards on too.

[iranfromthezoo]

In Mississippi all processions have a police escort at the front and rear along with police at all intersections and traffic is required to stop except on the interstate.

[Dakar the Fourth]

Originally Posted by sek929 

I've never heard of only having your lights on, all the processions I've seen the cars involved have their hazards on too.

That makes way more sense.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by RAILhead 

Cops take care of the processions at intersections here in Texas. Sounds like the Mass cops dropped the ball.

Yep. The Bexar County Sheriff's Department handles that around here. They have a motorcycle unit that is very good at this, leapfrogging from intersection to intersection as needed. Very cool, but subdued bikes too-all of them are Honda Goldwings in black.

I recall seeing a bunch of processions while growing up in Southeastern Michigan, and there were always police vehicles involved to keep traffic managed properly. They certainly were there in force for my mother's funeral there (about 11 years ago).

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by iranfromthezoo 

In Mississippi all processions have a police escort at the front and rear along with police at all intersections and traffic is required to stop except on the interstate.

That's how it ought to be. They should arrange it like a parade if it's going to create the same kind of situation.

[olePigeon]

San Jose is finally catching up to New York. Nearly all major streets have strobe cameras so emergency vehicles (and funeral precessions) can change the light so they don't have to run red lights.

[iranfromthezoo]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

That's how it ought to be. They should arrange it like a parade if it's going to create the same kind of situation.

was that a joke on how they did that? or was that saying that was a good idea?

[Shaddim]

Originally Posted by MacosNerd 

No flags, no cops, no nothing. just a line of cars with their lights on, of course you didn't know it was a line of cars with the lights on because everyone else had their lights on.

Yeah, that's the fault of the local authorities, they should have been doing their jobs.

[ort888]

The authorities were too busy looking for blinking mooninite's to follow the funeral procession.

[11011001]

bleh, beaten to it

[IceEnclosure]

errrrr

[sek929]

Originally Posted by ort888 

The authorities were too busy looking for blinking mooninite's to follow the funeral procession.

My tax dollars hard at work.

[Face Ache]

You'd hate to be late for your own funeral.

Here they stop at the lights for the reason Chuckit mentioned.