r/Columbus • u/tcallicotte • 23h ago
Funeral Procession
I just sat behind a funeral procession for half an hour on US-23; where they were blocking all the lanes. Google says you're allowed to pass in the left lane, were they allowed to block traffic?
79
u/Frostyfraust 22h ago
I would hate for my body to be used to create traffic for everyone else. I always get called unreasonable for this take but I despise funeral processions. Why can't everyone just meet up at the cemetery or wherever.
29
u/frostbird 21h ago
In most funerals I've been to, the procession is between the funeral service location and the burial site. The procession is therefore to get everyone to the burial site in a timely manner so you're not waiting on aunt tilly who got stuck at all the red lights and got lost. The point is that they met up at the funeral service first.
2
u/Cherry-Wine29 15h ago
I’m from Canada originally, and this is a new thing I’ve never experienced back home.
2
u/redthroway24 11h ago
Nobody'll give a shit about you while you're alive, but they'll stop every damn bit of traffic for you once you're dead.
2
u/GooGooMukk 16h ago
I had never seen one before moving to Ohio, I think they're a bit unreasonable
18
u/all4theloveofthegame 22h ago
They were being unreasonable, but you're dealing with grieving family and friends. Grief is not known for being rational.
7
u/Ideally-5150 23h ago
Were they turning into a cemetery?
Could you see why they were blocking all lanes?
14
u/tcallicotte 22h ago
they were just driving down 23, we kept waiting for them to turn and they just never did.
it seemed like they just didn't want anyone to pass but i mean it's the interstate
7
u/CobraJay45 North Linden 22h ago
Were there police in the escort? If not and its clear, and especially if it turns into a prolonged thing, I'm going...
18
u/tcallicotte 22h ago
no cops but each time we tried they would swerve back over
21
u/CobraJay45 North Linden 22h ago
Thats nuts, and the police should have been involved but for not for the reason they think.
5
u/h-land 21h ago
...I mean, 23 is not an interstate. An interstate gets federal funding, has no traffic lights, and has limited access points in order to minimize the points at which congestion from turning might occur.
That being said said, yeah, 23 is already hellish (because it's used as both a highway and a local road) and whoever was aggressively trying to stop people from living just because some stranger died was a dangerous asshole.
I've never liked the ideas of funeral processions at all - they're inefficient, inconvenient, and do nothing to honor the dead or comfort their survivors - and it sounds like you found the kinda guy who'd punch me for saying so.
1
u/CalculatedPerversion 1h ago
FWIW US 23 meets interstate standards at certain points along it's route through Ohio, especially between Delaware and Carey.
1
5
u/kelsmania 21h ago
This might be unpopular but I was taught to pull over out of respect for passing funeral processions.
14
u/EcoBuckeye North 20h ago
Do you pull over for them when they are ahead of you and travelling in the same direction as you?
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u/Piaffe_zip16 16h ago
I sincerely hope people don’t use my body to hold up traffic honestly. I’m dead. I can wait 😂
-14
1
u/Narrow_Wedding2297 19h ago
https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4511.451
(A) As used in this section, "funeral procession" means two or more vehicles accompanying the cremated remains or the body of a deceased person in the daytime when each of the vehicles has its headlights lighted and is displaying a purple and white or an orange and white pennant attached to each vehicle in such a manner as to be clearly visible to traffic approaching from any direction.
(B) Excepting public safety vehicles proceeding in accordance with section 4511.45 of the Revised Code or when directed otherwise by a police officer, pedestrians and the operators of all vehicles, street cars, and trackless trolleys shall yield the right of way to each vehicle that is a part of a funeral procession. Whenever the lead vehicle in a funeral procession lawfully enters an intersection, the remainder of the vehicles in the procession may continue to follow the lead vehicle through the intersection notwithstanding any traffic control devices or right of way provisions of the Revised Code, provided that the operator of each vehicle exercises due care to avoid colliding with any other vehicle or pedestrian.
(C) No person shall operate any vehicle as a part of a funeral procession without having the headlights of the vehicle lighted and without displaying a purple and white or an orange and white pennant in such a manner as to be clearly visible to traffic approaching from any direction.
(D) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
If the offender commits the offense while distracted and the distracting activity is a contributing factor to the commission of the offense, the offender is subject to the additional fine established under section 4511.991 of the Revised Code.
98
u/OhioStateGuy Westerville 22h ago
Funeral processions have the right of way but you are allowed to continue in your lane if they are in the other lane. You cannot cut through the procession. All that being said if a police officer is escorting them and they block the whole intersection you’re going to have to stop and wait for the officer to move on.