Funeral Procession

A funeral procession is the line of motor vehicles following a hearse from the funeral service to the cemetery. Those closest to the family are lined up directly behind the hearse with friends following behind them.

A funeral procession must be accompanied by a licensed escort, such as a police officer. There is usually one escort per 10-12 vehicles. The cars in a funeral procession are required to have their lights turned on. Some states may require you to put on your hazard lights as well.

A funeral procession has the right of way and people are required to yield to a procession and not interfere or cause an obstruction.

Hiring transportation

If close family members are elderly or so distraught it would be unsafe to drive, you may want to find someone to drive them. You could ask a family friend or hire a limousine or car service.

If your reception is a distance from the funeral services or you have a large group of people coming in from out of town and staying at a hotel, you may want to provide transportation for your guests. Most car service companies are able to provide passenger vans to seat larger groups of people.

Make sure that if you have elderly people in your party or women dressed in skirts, the van company provides a stepping stool. Mini-coaches may be more comfortable, with a center aisle and steps into the vehicle. You can also find taxi services that handle wheelchairs.

If you are expecting a very large group, you may want to consider hiring a bus. If you choose to provide transportation to a reception, keep in mind your guests will also need a ride back to their cars or hotel. Also determine whether a tip for the driver is expected, and designate someone in your party to take care of that so there are no surprises.

A Heart2Soul Community is a great place to share transportation details and suggestions with your guests.