Arkansas Funeral Procession Driving Rules

In Arkansas, specific laws govern the operation of funeral processions to ensure safety and respect on the roadways. Understanding these rules is essential for both participants in the procession and other motorists.

Definitions

• Funeral Escort Vehicle: A motor vehicle that leads or facilitates the movement of a funeral procession and is equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating purple lights. This includes hearses, vehicles owned by funeral homes or private escort companies, and motorcycles used for escorting.

• Funeral Procession: A funeral escort vehicle and one or more motor vehicles accompanying the body or cremated remains of a deceased person from a funeral home, church, or other location to the burial site or cemetery.

Right-of-Way at Intersections

• A funeral procession may proceed through an intersection without stopping after the funeral escort vehicle has entered the intersection in compliance with any official traffic control device.

• The procession must yield the right-of-way to:

  • Authorized emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights.
  • Oncoming traffic that constitutes an immediate hazard.
  • When directed to yield or stop by a law enforcement officer.
  • Approaching railroad trains.

• If a vehicle in the procession becomes separated, it must proceed to its destination and obey all traffic control devices and general rules of the road.

Vehicle Requirements in a Funeral Procession

• Vehicles must display lighted headlamps, tail lamps, and flashing lights as provided in § 27-36-208(c).

• Vehicles should follow the preceding vehicle in the procession as closely as is reasonable and prudent to keep the procession together.

• Funeral escort vehicles must be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating purple lights, which should only be activated during a funeral procession.

Rules for Other Motorists

Motorists not part of a funeral procession must:

• Not drive between vehicles in a funeral procession while they are in motion.

• Not join a funeral procession for the purpose of securing the right-of-way.

• Not pass a funeral procession on a multiple-lane highway on the right side unless the procession is in the leftmost lane.

• Not enter an intersection when a funeral procession is proceeding through a red traffic signal unless they can do so without crossing the path of the procession.

Penalties

Violating the rules regarding funeral processions can result in a fine of up to $250.

For more information on Arkansas traffic laws, visit the Arkansas Code Search.