Are IL and MO drivers required to yield to funeral processions? What state law says

Meredith Howard
·2 min read
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State law varies across the nation as to if and when drivers are required to yield to funeral processions. In Illinois and in Missouri, drivers in funeral processions have the right-of-way at intersections, with some exceptions.

Here’s what to know about yielding for funeral processions in the Land of Lincoln and the Show Me state.

Illinois yield law

In Illinois, cars in funeral processions have the right-of-way at intersections when they use their headlights and hazards. The following conditions apply:

  • Drivers in funeral processions must yield to authorized emergency vehicles giving audible or visible signals.

  • “The operator of a vehicle not in a funeral procession may overtake and pass the vehicles in such procession if such overtaking and passing can be accomplished without causing a traffic hazard or interfering with such procession,” Illinois law says.

  • Funeral processions are required to yield when directed to do so by an officer.

  • The driver of the leading vehicle in a procession must comply with stop signs and traffic signals, but when it has proceeded through the intersection “all vehicles in such procession may proceed without stopping, regardless of the sign or signal and the leading vehicle and the vehicles in procession shall proceed with due caution,” Illinois law says.

  • Drivers who are not part of a funeral procession may not drive in the procession except when told to do so by an officer or when the driver is operating an emergency vehicle giving a signal.

  • Drivers who are not participating in a funeral procession may not form a procession or convoy and use their headlights or hazard lights for the purpose of securing the right-of-way given to funeral processions.

  • The lead vehicle in a funeral procession may use a flashing amber light (but only when they are acting as a lead vehicle in a funeral procession). Vehicles in funeral processions can use pennants, flags, windshield stickers or hazard lights to identify themselves.

  • “In the absence of law enforcement traffic control assistance for a funeral procession, a funeral director or his or her designee may direct traffic during a funeral procession,” Illinois law says.

Missouri yield law

In Missouri, drivers and pedestrians must yield the right-of-way to any vehicle that is part of an organized funeral procession.

“Notwithstanding any traffic control device or right-of-way provision prescribed by state or local law,” when the lead vehicle in a funeral procession legally enters an intersection, all vehicles in the procession shall follow it through the intersection.

Drivers in the procession should exercise “the highest degree of care” toward other vehicles or pedestrians on the road.

An organized funeral procession has the right-of-way at all intersections regardless of any traffic control device, but they must yield to approaching emergency vehicles or when directed to do so by a police officer.