Do you have to give way to a funeral procession? This is the right way to drive around a service
Most drivers would have seen a cortege on the road, but how many of us know what to do if we encounter one?
MOST Brits would have passed a funeral procession at some point, but how many of us actually know the right thing to do on the road?
Among the chaos of Britain's traffic and trying to make it to work on time, motorists often forget the etiquette around this delicate subject.
Funeral processions don't actually have any special rights on the road, and are expected to stick to the same rules as everyone else.
They don't legally have any special right of way at roundabouts or traffic lights, and they will only be given minor concessions if they come under police control.
But even though there isn't a clean cut law that you have to stick to, drivers are expected to behave in a certain way to show their respect.
A 2016 study found that 91 per cent of Brits had no idea what to do if they encountered a funeral procession - and people still aren't sure.
If you come across a funeral cortege while in your car, you should always give the entire procession right of way.
Don't try to quickly pull out ahead of them, and certainly don't cut into the middle of the convoy - it's not something you want to disrupt.
Remember that funeral cars will normally travel at around 20mph, so try to be patient and don't honk your horn or rev your engine.
And it's also common practise to turn off any music in your car while you drive near the dearly departed.
Drivers today can often become frustrated with the slow moving traffic, but in consideration for the mourning family, it doesn't hurt to be patient once in a while and wait until the entire procession has pulled off the road before speeding up.
Rodney Kumar, press officer at IAM Roadmsart, said: “We would hope that drivers would show a funeral cortege the same respect that they would wish for themselves, if it was the funeral of a loved one of theirs.
The road laws you need to know
"Drivers should allow the whole of the cortege the right of way, and not cut in between any of the cars in the procession.
"We would point out that these vehicles will be moving slower than normal – a typical hearse would be driven at about 20mph, so do not rev your engine, hoot your horn, or play loud music through your open window.
“Bear in mind that this will be the last chance to do something nice for the individual in question, so why not do it?
"Added to that, the memory of this day for the families concerned will last forever, so don’t spoil the moment by angry driving.”