Being polite on the road is almost always a good thing but trying to be too respectful for funerals can cause problems.

Q. There seem to be a lot of letters to editor, jeers, rants, columns complaining about "disrespectful" drivers who do not pull over as a funeral procession passes. What are the actual laws? – Brian M., Fort Wayne

A. Thanks for the question, Brian, on a topic of seemingly endless confusion on the road. From my own personal experience, it seems people really don’t know the rules, so I hope I can make it clear.

I understand funerals are solemn occasions when people shouldn’t be troubled by having to navigate through city traffic to get to a cemetery or other place. There are laws governing these processions, however, that must be followed to ensure the safety of people attending the funeral as well as other drivers on the road.

I am unsure why, but some drivers think they must pull to the side of the road for an oncoming funeral procession. This even happens on four-lane roads, with my experiences occurring mostly on Lake Avenue with Catholic Cemetery traffic.

Nowhere in state law does it read that drivers must pull to the side of the road for an oncoming procession. The law does grant the entire procession the right of way when making turns, but the onus is on the leader of the procession to make sure the way is clear before turning and stopping oncoming traffic.

This isn’t only the law, it also makes good safety sense. Pulling over or stopping traffic for no reason is a dangerous act, as other drivers may be confused or even so upset that they try to make a dangerous pass.

In fact, the law allows drivers to pass a funeral procession going in the same direction on a multilane road. The law – Indiana Code 9-21-13-6 – allows drivers to pass the procession on the left if it can be done safely.

So if drivers may pass a procession going in the same direction, it makes it even clearer that vehicles need not stop for an oncoming funeral convoy.

Sometimes drivers in a procession become irritated at vehicles passing their procession, no doubt considering this legal act rude. I have seen vehicles in a procession illegally pull into the inner of two lanes to block any passing traffic.

Of course, the law does point out that it is illegal to drive between vehicles of a procession. It also points out that it is against the law to jump on the end of a procession as a way to skip all the traffic signals. It’s kind of sad that this needed to be put into law, but it seems some people will do anything to save a few minutes.

Radio Sage

This week’s bonus audio question comes from the Bakers, who asked about the traffic signal on Coliseum Boulevard next to the arena. The segment originally aired Friday afternoon on WOWO and can be found online at www.journalgazette.net/roadsage.