About 2 hours ago at time of writing this I buried my mother in law. As we were about to set off in the procession of cars to the cemetery word went round to stick close together and if we came to a red light to just ignore it and carry on, as funeral processions were allowed to do this.
This smelled wrong, but fortunately several sets of lights later we arrived safely with not a red to be seen. I’ve searched the online highway code for funerals but turned up nothing. Is this an urban legend aka complete cobblers or does anyone know if there’s a basis in fact. I can’t see it myself, as you’re not allowed to pull through a red to let an ambulance through. AFAIK only blue light vehicles are allowed to do this.
A news story I read a few years ago sticks in my mind where a funeral director’s car triggered a red light camera, and he got a fine and points. He tried to appeal, but had no luck. I’m 99.99999% certain it’s an urban myth about exemption.
Just out of curiosity…
To o/p if the light had turned red, would you have gone through it or let the procession crack on in front of you, and lose them.
robroy:
Just out of curiosity…
To o/p if the light had turned red, would you have gone through it or let the procession crack on in front of you, and lose them.
No question, would have stopped. Emergency services have twos and blues to alert others they were coming through, but not me. Legality aside, I’m not sure someone coming the other way in 30 tons of tipper is going to stop in time, even if their reaction times were as good as they think they are.
No one is asking the question “How come all the lights were green?”
Surely THIS is as unlikely a scenario in the real world as that old one about “fined per turn of the landing leg handle” for not winding your legs up far enough?
You’re at pole position at a set of traffic lights, and have been there for what feels like ages waiting for them to turn green.
Question: How does one instantly force the lights to change, without leaving your vehicle?
Answer 1: “Flash your headlights” URBAN MYTH THIS WORKS - Right?
Answer 2: “Drop something down the side of your driver’s chair, or in the footwell.”
The moment you glance down to see where it went, the lights will go green!!
So my carefully worked out new urban myth answer to OP’s situation is:
“Funeral Homes have a “Tag” device they put in the windscreen that over-rides the traffic lights to make them go green as they approach them slower than 30mph”.
I was in a funeral procession years ago for my nan and my aunty said exactly the same. The lights turned red and she said to the driver, “don’t stop”. I was not happy with this and shouted at the driver to stop which they did.
I didn’t fancy joining my nan down the Crematorium that day. Some drivers coming the other way will see a green light and just go for it without looking and you’re asking to get T-Boned for which you will almost certainly get the blame.
I had the misfortune to come across a gypsy funeral procession in Bradford. They had 5 ‘outriders’ on quad bikes just driving up and blocking any traffic trying to join the road, and every car had gypsy girls and boys sat on the side windows so they were sat above the roof of the car they were in. The coffin was in an old fashioned caravan thing pulled by horses.
One guy tried to pull out and the quad bikers got off and threatened to smash his face in! Pretty sure they ignored any traffic rules, lights or otherwise!! Lawless!
A while back coming out south mims at roundabout. a wide load was going round roundabout
Lights changed to red and his.mate behind just followed him round through a red light almost wiping out me and a van.
I went over was told basically wide loads we can’t be split up were allowed through red lights have travel together.
Load wasn’t even that wide if honest was some kind of plant machinery on back.of a flat bed
No idea if it’s true or not
Surely if that’s the case a wide load can jump red lights should have ■■■■■■ vehicle blocking the junction to prevent people joing getting in the way.
Swordsy:
I had the misfortune to come across a gypsy funeral procession in Bradford. They had 5 ‘outriders’ on quad bikes just driving up and blocking any traffic trying to join the road, and every car had gypsy girls and boys sat on the side windows so they were sat above the roof of the car they were in. The coffin was in an old fashioned caravan thing pulled by horses.
One guy tried to pull out and the quad bikers got off and threatened to smash his face in! Pretty sure they ignored any traffic rules, lights or otherwise!! Lawless!
No surprise there, but anyone with an ounce of knowledge of how the world works will be aware that a gypsy funeral or wake is something to keep as far clear of as possible under all circumstances.
While back just had lunch and pulled away only few hundred yds up as i approached the lights they almost turned red but i drove thru ,in a hurry to get on my journey .No sooner had i got thru a copper in a range rover pulls me up he was behind me id not noticed him. Anyhow he used the red light as an excuse to breathalyse me ,i could tell he thought hes just had his lunch likely hes had a beer.Anyhoo i told him last beer i had was with my son a week before ,i could tell he thought i was blowin smoke and hed got a result but it blew negative i was tellin the truth
what i DO like are those slush drinks,dyou know them?
“what…kiddies drinks” he replied
thinking back on it im pretty sure was a range rover,maybe a discovery? he was on his own in it.In our conver he told me prior to pulling me up hed been busy dealing with local ne"er do wells,of which that area apparently had plenty. If id blown positive hed have took me down the station, id have been a surprise midday catch,filled his afternoon nicely . As it was he had wasted his time, bade me farewell and drove off before i had time to pull away.
Actually iv been breathalysed about 5 times in ten years almost every time iv been stopped if i include my own car. Each time theyve gave me the little tube you blow in for "a keepsake"is the words they used. Somehow i must have got onto the drunk register or praps i just look it?? iv never been a drinker ,prob only have a pint a week on average i think iv told that to a copper before you can see by their face thinking hes a liar . A guy where i used to unload once said i had “that look” and said “youre amongst friends,dont deny it…” .Spose i DO walk with a slight limp that may fit in with the image of a stumbling drunk
