OT Purple lights for funeral processions

Did you ever see purple lights or flash lights on hearses or other vehicles used in funeral processions/corteges? (The purpose being to warn/inform other drivers that a funeral is taking place.) We heard that they are being used somewhere in Canada.
Does a cortege have any special rights in the sense of traffic rules?
Your comments are highly appreciated.

Laws are different from state to state...however, blue and or clear lights can be used to indicate a funeral procession. Red with blue lights are not allowed on anything except emergency vehicles (ambulance, police, fire) in Indiana. At our funeral home we use clear strobes on our vehicles to get the attention of oncoming traffic. As a general rule, oncoming traffic is to pull over and stop as a funeral procession approaches except on a divided highway. Hope this answers your question.
Digger

Every funeral I have ever been to uses the purple lights or at least purple flags in the procession. I don"t know if it is law or just custom,but once you start rolling you keep it tight and don"t stop for traffic signals or anything.

Are there any actual laws about funeral traffic?
I've seen people just stop in the road forcing those behind to stop, almost causing accidents and a lot of road rage.I've seen truckers pass cars setting still going off the right side of the road.

In Ontario, Can. purple lights are used by hearst in funeral processions, but are only to alert the other drivers that there is a funeral procession traveling , and it is hope that out of respect for the family of the deceased, other drivers will yield the right of way. They do not have right of way at intersections/stop lights ect. unless they have hired pay duty Police officer to stop traffic on their behalf.

I had a situation Friday. Was on a major highway in small town.A few cars came out of a side street intersection without a light, next thing I knew another car came out in front of me. I nearly hit him. He looked at me like I was an idiot. When I got stopped I saw the Little purple flag hanging on his rear window. I don't generally attend burials processions and those that I have knowone ever gave me a purple flag. They just told me to turn on my lights and follow the procession. They didin't say I should violate all the rules of the road.

Purple flags around here. We're out in the sticks, and it's real common for EVERYONE meeting a funeral procession to pull over while it passes. Might not be a law, but the funeral procession definately has the right-of-way.

I worked for a man in road construction. He was a hard worker and demanded the same from the crew, but when a funeral procession came past the work area, he made everyone lay down their tools, remove their head covering, and bow their heads until the procession passed. Soon as it passed, it was a$$e$ and elbows again. . .

Paul

Most States, it is more a thing of courtesy as was mentioned in one post. I remember in Indiana in the driver's manual, it was stated you should pull to the right, and stop when meeting a funeral procession, and not pass if coming up to one except on a divided street, road, or highway. It may have changed since I lived there 30 years ago. In Texas, there is no law to require you to stop, but anytime I was called to be a part of an escort, we covered all intersections to stop cross traffic, and to prevent the passing etc. A good friend was killed when working an escort, and a driver failed to yield at a blocked intersection. He was on duty as a motorcycle officer. She took out 2 cars, his bike standing still, and him before he could run out of the way. I guess folks have too many things today to get done to stop for a moment and show a little respect to a family, and maybe avoid a collision of some sort. It's not so much that they are violating the law, ...Anyway.

I dont know were your from, but here in NY for as long as I can remember they put purple magnitic flags on the cars hoods. A funeral procession has the right of way. So if a light turns red as a long line of cars is going threw, they just keep on going. Everyone waits. For some big funerals, they have police, or sherrif escorts.

Most funreal processions here in our area of Michigan are lead by the hearse displaying purple flashing lights. Following cars display orange flags. Funeral processions have right of way. Usually what this means is that the leading vehicle will observe the traffic signals, and those following will continue, even though the traffic light changes. Usually, if a procession passes through a major intersection there will be a police officer directing traffic. Last procession I was in, a rescue unit blocked and directed traffic, as police were not available. This was a for a veteran, and there was a PU truck with amber over head flasher, and yellow sign on front indicating a motorcycle procession, followed by numerous cycles from the Patriot Guard, then the hearse and conventional procession. Many oncoming traffic will pull over while procession passes, but this is "kind of optional", as long as traffic does not interfere with procession.

My problem is that purple lights on hearse is typically very hard to see, as is not very bright.
Other complaint is that often they run short of flags, and last vehicles in procession are not properly identified.

Most funreal processions here in our area of Michigan are lead by the hearse displaying purple flashing lights. Following cars display orange flags. Funeral processions have right of way. Usually what this means is that the leading vehicle will observe the traffic signals, and those following will continue, even though the traffic light changes. Usually, if a procession passes through a major intersection there will be a police officer directing traffic. Last procession I was in, a rescue unit blocked and directed traffic, as police were not available. This was a for a veteran, and there was a PU truck with amber over head flasher, and yellow sign on front indicating a motorcycle procession, followed by numerous cycles from the Patriot Guard, then the hearse and conventional procession. Many oncoming traffic will pull over while procession passes, but this is "kind of optional", as long as traffic does not interfere with procession.

My problem is that purple lights on hearse is typically very hard to see, as is not very bright.
Other complaint is that often they run short of flags, and last vehicles in procession are not properly identified.

While I was unable to find any Kansas law regarding oncoming traffic pulling over to the side of the roadway until the funeral passes, I'm pretty sure there is one. There are exceptions however. United States Postal Vehicles are one.

I never knew a letter carrier that didn't give courtesy however and pull over anyway.

Read Wichita ordinance a little while ago and those in a funeral procession there must have headlights AND hazard flashers on.

In Ohio you had better pull over. Have been in prosessions that were led by a patrol car and if they did not pull over before the prosession got there they got the point of the officer in the patrol car to get over and stop now. Once a semi tried to pull out just before the motorcycle officer got there and one point at him and he was backing in to the parking lot till after the prosession was past.

In Mo. it is the law to pull over when meeting a funeral procession on 2 lane roads. Never seen any purple lights though, but all drivers turn on lights and/or flashers.

They've been using purple strobe lights here for a few years now... or at least some companies do. Not all. There's no special privledges with them. Obey all traffic laws the same as all other types of warning lights...
It's just that they get noticed more easily for those too blind to see a 20' long black caddy wagon...

Rod

In Illinois funeral processions have the right of way. Like someone else posted, the lead car will usually stop for a traffic signal but once it goes the rest of the cars in the procession don't have to stop.
I'd guess allot of drivers aren't aware that procession have the right of way...or they choose to disobey the law.
Don't recall seeing purple lights. The lead car has white strobe lights. Some funeral homes advise everyone in the procession to turn on their lights, and their emergency flashers.