HomeAnswersWhat is a funeral procession?
What is a funeral procession?
A funeral procession is a line of two or more vehicles traveling together with the body or remains of a person who has died, usually to the funeral service or the burial. Florida law, for example, defines it as vehicles accompanying the body of a deceased person, or traveling to the church, chapel or other place where the service is held, in the daylight hours, including a lead vehicle or escort vehicle. Massachusetts uses a similar definition that also covers cremated remains.
Rules for processions come from state traffic law, and they vary by state. Several states give a procession the right of way once its lead vehicle has lawfully entered an intersection, so the cars behind it may follow through even if the light changes. Florida, Ohio, Arizona and Massachusetts all say other drivers and pedestrians must yield to vehicles in a procession, and Iowa says every other driver except an emergency vehicle must yield. Cars in a procession still have to yield to emergency vehicles and follow directions from police, and they must drive with care.
Most states also say how procession cars should be marked. North Carolina requires headlights and hazard lights where the vehicle has them, and its lead vehicle may show a flashing amber or purple light, a pennant, a flag or another funeral home insignia. Ohio requires headlights and a purple and white or orange and white pennant on each vehicle. Florida and Massachusetts require headlights and tail lights, and Massachusetts also sets speed limits for procession cars.
Other drivers have duties too. North Carolina bars drivers from joining a procession to get its right of way and from passing it on a road without two or more lanes in the same direction, and it says oncoming drivers may choose to pull over or slow down but are not required to. Because the details differ from state to state, check your own state's traffic code or ask the funeral home how the procession will be led. This is general information, not legal advice.
The sources behind this answer
- Florida defines a funeral procession as two or more vehicles accompanying the body of a deceased person, or traveling to the place of the funeral service, in daylight hours, including a funeral lead or escort vehicle. Florida Statutes 316.1974
- Florida requires pedestrians and other drivers to yield the right of way to vehicles in a funeral procession led by a funeral escort or lead vehicle, regardless of traffic control devices. Florida Statutes 316.1974
- In Florida, vehicles in a procession must yield to approaching emergency vehicles and to police directions, and must use due care. Florida Statutes 316.1974
- Florida requires each procession vehicle to have its headlights and tail lights on, and allows flashing hazard lights. Florida Statutes 316.1974
- North Carolina requires each vehicle in a funeral procession to have its headlights and hazard warning lights on, if so equipped. North Carolina G.S. 20-157.1
- North Carolina defines a funeral procession as two or more vehicles with the remains or traveling to the service, led by a law enforcement or designated vehicle or one showing a flashing amber or purple light, sign, pennant, flag or funeral home insignia. North Carolina G.S. 20-157.1
- North Carolina says a driver not in the procession may not join it to get its right of way. North Carolina G.S. 20-157.1
- North Carolina lets oncoming drivers choose to yield to a procession by slowing or stopping off the roadway, and bars same-direction drivers from passing unless the road has two or more lanes in that direction. North Carolina G.S. 20-157.1
- Ohio defines a funeral procession as two or more vehicles accompanying cremated remains or a body in the daytime, each with headlights on and a purple and white or orange and white pennant. Ohio Revised Code 4511.451
- In Ohio, once the lead vehicle lawfully enters an intersection, the rest of the procession may follow through it, provided each driver uses due care. Ohio Revised Code 4511.451
- Iowa requires every other driver, except an authorized emergency vehicle, to yield the right of way to an approaching funeral procession. Iowa Code 321.324A
- Arizona requires pedestrians and drivers, except emergency vehicles, to yield to a funeral procession led by a funeral escort vehicle, and each procession vehicle must have headlights on. Arizona Revised Statutes 28-776
- Massachusetts defines a funeral procession as two or more vehicles accompanying the body or cremated remains in daylight hours, including a lead or escort vehicle. Massachusetts General Laws c.85 s.14A
- Massachusetts caps procession speed at 55 mph on highways posted 55 or more, and at 5 mph below the posted limit on other roads, and requires headlights and taillights. Massachusetts General Laws c.85 s.14A
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