Funeral processions flagged

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This article was published 26/01/2010 (5856 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The time-honoured tradition of funeral processions going through red lights is a symbol that the community respects the grieving of mourners riding to the cemetery to bury their loved one.

Unfortunately, the tradition can be dangerous.

A collision in Winnipeg on Jan. 13 sent two people to hospital with minor injuries after a vehicle turned into a funeral procession honouring a 96-year-old woman.

Crashes like this have some safety officials saying the provincial Highway Traffic Act has an out-dated approach to funeral processions.

(The law) is antiquated and a danger in my opinion," said Patrol Sgt. Kevin Cisaroski, the Winnipeg Police Service central traffic unit’s special events co-ordinator.

The act currently states vehicles in a funeral procession can go through a stop sign or a red traffic-control light after the lead vehicle has slowed or stopped for safety. It also states the funeral procession has the right-of-way after passing through an intersection with a traffic light or sign.

Police used to escort funeral services but no longer guard intersections unless the funeral is a high-profile event expected to attract an unusual amount of people.

There are not enough officers to provide escorts for every funeral, say police.

"The law doesn’t work in an urban environment like we have now given the types of vehicles we have and the speeds that people travel on the roadways, and the urban design of roadways," said Cisaroski.

"In many cases, your sightline is next to nothing until you’re at that intersection."

The act does not require funeral directors or procession organizers to secure each intersection the procession is heading through, but does require a lead vehicle.

The lead vehicle has to ensure it’s safe to enter the intersection.

Cisaroski said funeral processions pose a safety risk if the vehicles in it are not nose-to-tail.

"Now, you’ve got somebody who’s a little slow, who’s grieving, who’s psychologically hurt as a result of the reason they’re there, they’re friends of somebody who’s died," he said. He said confusion about who has the right-of-way in intersections where funeral processions are travelling will lead to death.

"It’s only a matter of time (before) that happens to somebody," he said.

He said for "safety’s sake" they should have an official escort with emergency lighting to hold intersections.

On Jan. 13, a collision occurred on Main Street after a procession from the Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity to Glen Eden Memorial Gardens. At about noon, a Honda CR-V travelling southbound on Main Street collided with a northbound Chrysler Sebring after the Honda turned eastbound towards Red River Boulevard.

Jacqueline Wilson, 58, was in the funeral procession to honour her late 96-year-old mother, Effie Sokoluik. She said the collision occurred after a handful of vehicles had gone through the intersection, but there were many other vehicles behind in line.

"(Drivers) have to be cautious, " she said. "They can cause hurt and pain, and property damage."

She said everyone in the procession had their four-way flashers on.

Brian Smiley, Manitoba Public Insurance spokesman, said vehicles in a procession should be "train-like" and should use "care and caution" in their approach.

gabrielle.giroday@freepress.mb.ca

What does the Highway Traffic Act state?

Vehicles in a funeral procession should stay to the extreme right-hand side of the road.

Vehicles should have their "headlamps" on.

The lead vehicle in the procession should slow down or stop for safety at intersections.

 

Is the law outdated? Police say very

"Every vehicle on the roadway now in Manitoba is mandated by law to have daytime running lights. This law was written back before daytime running lights existed."

— Patrol Sgt. Kevin Cisaroski