Re: Were The Police Right To Punish The Driver On This Occasion?

I can understand why the driver did it. Half the time we ourselves have followed a funeral procession of cars from the church to a crematorium in a strange town where we didn't know our way around or where it was, we worried about being separated by traffic lights. But no way, would we have ever ignored a Red traffic light, regardless.

So yes, the driver deserved a ticket because they could have caused a terrible accident to other innocent drivers.

Re: Were The Police Right To Punish The Driver On This Occasion?

Poor Sod - NSW Road Rules:

"When driving you must not negligently or wilfully interfere with, or interrupt, the free passage along the road of any funeral cortege or authorised procession. You must not interfere with any vehicle or person apparently forming part of the funeral or procession. It is an offence and you will be fined"

Re: Were The Police Right To Punish The Driver On This Occasion?

I can't help but feel for him to be honest , maybe a moment's panic but at the end of the day he broke the law and could have caused an accident .

Lesson learned I suppose .

Re: Were The Police Right To Punish The Driver On This Occasion?

broke the law, could have caused a crash, no sympathy at all.

Re: Were The Police Right To Punish The Driver On This Occasion?

It's not that the police are being heavy-handed,nor are they without their own individual moments of pain. However,from personal experience working as an undertaker,I can tell you people VERY often become narky and impatient at following a funeral cortege and will take really silly risks to get past. It would take just ONE youngster on a moped,still on 'L' plates,to pull out as his light turns green...and you can book the hearse for further work. So-take the course,mutter,moan,whinge,learn from your mistake...and next time,if you REALLY don't know the way-don't be last in line! [or at least take a satnav]

Re: Were The Police Right To Punish The Driver On This Occasion?

I think almost every funeral I have ever attended, someone has tried to get in between the cortege. On one occasion a van forced it's way between the front two cars.

Re: Were The Police Right To Punish The Driver On This Occasion?

It was a traffic violation and he deserved to be charged - but I do understand his thinking.

Re: Were The Police Right To Punish The Driver On This Occasion?

LD,you really wouldn't believe just how often we [the funeral drivers] were sworn at,given the 'W' wave,overtaken,even had ,as you say, cars pulling in between the cortege vehicles,flashing their headlights in their impatient attempts to get us to move over/accelerate,so forth. Funny how their whole attitude changes when it's THEIR turn....but,c'est la vie.