Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to overtake a hearse?

409 replies

confusedabouthormones · 01/10/2024 12:10

So today on the way home from school I had just pulled onto a dual carriageway and there was a hearse with some cars behind it. They were going to a near by crematorium. I pulled into the outside lane and drove past it.

My mother was in the car and she had a right go at me for being disrespectful and how she was embarrassed to be in my car. When I looked in my mirror no one else had passed the hearse.

Is this a thing? In my 30 odd years driving I've never heard this.

Was I being unreasonable to pass the hearse?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
samedifferent · 01/10/2024 12:19

Dual carriageway is fine.
Residential streets no.

ConiferBat · 01/10/2024 12:19

If you're tootling along the dual carriage way and come across a random MNer in a blue Nissan Micra at the end of the procession (because they believe nobody overtakes a funeral procession) you will naturally overtake because you don't know there's hearse 15 cars down the row.

It would be so dangerous to stop & try & drop to the back of the line & far ruder to cut in.

Just overtake in calm & sensible manner in line with the guidance.

MonsteraMama · 01/10/2024 12:18

I'd probably overtake on a dual carriageway, it's not like you're zooming past them on a residential road. I've been sat in one of those cars following a much loved deceased relative and I can't tell you I gave a single solitary shit what anyone else on the road was doing tbh.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 01/10/2024 12:18

I think providing you don't hoot to get past, it is OK!

I've seen a hearse on a motorway and I feel it would unrealistic if everyone pulled on behind it.

titchy · 01/10/2024 12:17

Boobygravy · 01/10/2024 12:14

I wouldn't overtake, it's just a few minutes to show respect.

On a dual carriageway it could have been a lot more than that, leading to fairly major congestion behind. Obviously you overtake. Safety, Highway Code, have higher priority than thinking you're showing respect.

Beenhereforever1978 · 01/10/2024 12:17

Someone cut us up in a funeral procession once, just pulled out behind the hearse without checking who behind had their lights on!

Always though a dual carriageway is fine as long as you don't do a tyre screeching accelerate past. Single track absolute no.

Crazyeight · 01/10/2024 12:17

When I'm dead you can all overtake me. I definitely won't haunt you 👻

Justcallmebebes · 01/10/2024 12:17

Single track road. Hard no. Dual carriageway, fine

FussyFusspott · 01/10/2024 12:16

Yes I've always been told never overtake a hearse as it's a sign of disrespect. I can't imagine doing it to be honest!

Apollo365 · 01/10/2024 12:15

confusedabouthormones · 01/10/2024 12:15

Ah ok. I wouldn't do it on a residential road and I wouldn't split the hearse and the limo. But thought on a dual carriage way it was ok.

It is absolutely fine.

itwasnevermine · 01/10/2024 12:15

Not on a dual carriageway!!! Normal roads absolutely, but a dual carriageway is fair game.

As someone who has been a mourner in a procession, I couldn't have cared less if someone overtook us.

TickingAlongNicely · 01/10/2024 12:15

Theres a crematorium just off the m11/a14... no one just stays in a single lane behind the funerals!

Breaking through a procession, or going the other side of the road is rude. Not necessarily using both lanes of the road.

Original poster
confusedabouthormones · 01/10/2024 12:15

Ah ok. I wouldn't do it on a residential road and I wouldn't split the hearse and the limo. But thought on a dual carriage way it was ok.

OP posts:
FinallyMovingHouse · 01/10/2024 12:15

Dual carriageway - I think you were fine.

I would have done the same and have been in a funeral procession when overtaken in this way and was not at all offended - death is a part of life, happens to us all and life carries on for the rest of us...places to go, people to see.

Ineffable23 · 01/10/2024 12:15

I'd expect to not overtake a hearse normally but I think it's fine on a dual carriageway.

WeirdyWorldy · 01/10/2024 12:14

Absolutely would overtake on a dual carriageway! Nuts not to!

ManchesterLu · 01/10/2024 12:14

Partner works in the funeral business - he says it's absolutely fine to overtake on a dual carriageway, but not on a single lane road (but people still do!)

Also not cool to split the hearse from the limos at junctions/roundabouts.

Boobygravy · 01/10/2024 12:14

I wouldn't overtake, it's just a few minutes to show respect.

SunnyHedgehog · 01/10/2024 12:13

I think it's ok to do so on a dual carriageway- you weren't weaving around a side street, it was a clear pull to the side and round.

FriendlyNeighbourhoodAccountant · 01/10/2024 12:13

Apollo365 · 01/10/2024 12:12

On a dual carriageway - no you were fine

I agree with this. Single track road? Absolutely not. Multiple lanes? Surely it's fine. If they have to use the motorway are we really suggesting all lanes go slow?

Original poster
confusedabouthormones · 01/10/2024 12:13

OMG! Really! Even on a dual carriage way!
Wow.
Agreed lesson learned.

Gosh feel a right douche now.

OP posts:
MumApril1990 · 01/10/2024 12:13

I wouldn’t care about that on a dual carriageway at all. Seems stupid for everyone to go slowly behind it creating a build up of traffic?

ExquisiteEmelda · 01/10/2024 12:13

I wouldn’t overtake on a normal road but surely a dual carriageway is fair game?? 🤔

Procrastinates · 01/10/2024 12:13

Gosh yes you shouldn't overtake a hearse. It's just good manners to wait behind it especially if you know it's not got far to go. Noone is in that much of a hurry.

Swipe left for the next trending thread