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Massachusetts driving lesson · Sharing the Road

Aggressive Drivers, Slow Vehicles & Funeral Processions

A 4-minute lesson from the Massachusetts course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
4 minutes
Course unit
Sharing the Road
Checkpoint questions
5
Source pages
112, 113, 115, 116

Roads are shared by drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians, and courtesy is expected of everyone. Don't let anger get the best of you, and know the special rules for slow-moving vehicles and funeral processions.

Aggressive drivers often:

  • Cut people off
  • Exceed the speed limit
  • Switch lanes without signaling
  • Tailgate
  • Run red lights
  • Prevent other motorists from passing them
Handbook p. 112 ↗

When confronted by an aggressive driver:

  • Try to get out of their way
  • Don't challenge them
  • Avoid eye contact
  • Ignore rude gestures
  • Wear your safety belt: it keeps you in control and protects you
Handbook p. 112 ↗

Know the rule

Don't become an aggressive driver: control your anger. Call the State Police at 911 to report an emergency. State Police patrol highways in unmarked vehicles, and if you're arrested for aggressive driving, the RMV can suspend your license and registration before a court date.

Handbook p. 113 ↗

Know the rule

Most farm vehicles, construction rigs and other slow-moving vehicles have orange warning signs on the back. Slow down, treat them similar to bicyclists and pedestrians, and leave plenty of space if you pass.

Handbook p. 115 ↗

Funeral procession

Two or more vehicles, including a lead or escort vehicle, traveling in daylight with a deceased person's remains. It has the right-of-way at intersections but yields to emergency vehicles.

Handbook p. 115 ↗

Know the rule

If the lead vehicle (a hearse or police vehicle) legally drives through an intersection, the whole procession may follow, even if the light changes or there's a stop sign. Processions must also yield when directed by law enforcement.

Handbook p. 115 ↗

Driving in a funeral procession, you must:

  • Drive carefully; you may follow the vehicle ahead as closely as is safe
  • Watch for pedestrians and other vehicles when entering an intersection
  • Not exceed 55 mph on highways posted 55 or higher, nor go over 5 mph under the limit elsewhere
  • Have your headlights and taillights on
  • Have hazard lights on if you are the first or last vehicle
Handbook p. 116 ↗

If you're not in the procession, you may not:

  • Drive between procession vehicles (unless police direct you, or you drive an emergency vehicle)
  • Join the procession
  • Pass it on its right on a multi-lane highway, unless it's in the far left lane
  • Cross an intersection in its path, even on your green light
Handbook p. 116 ↗

Know the rule

A funeral home's vehicle may display a flashing purple light, and no other color, when driven by the owner, an employee or a contractor during a funeral procession.

Handbook p. 116 ↗

Put it into practice

Your light is green, but a funeral procession is going through the intersection against its red. Stay put until it has passed, unless you can cross without crossing the path of the procession.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

The lead vehicle of a funeral procession legally enters an intersection, then the light turns red. What may the rest of the procession do?
  1. Follow it through the intersection
  2. Stop and wait for the green light
  3. Follow only if a police escort is present
  4. Proceed only after yielding to cross traffic

Answer: Follow it through the intersection

If the lead vehicle legally drives through an intersection, all procession vehicles may follow even if the light changes.

Handbook p. 115 ↗
A funeral procession must yield to an emergency vehicle using flashing lights or a siren.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Funeral processions have right-of-way at intersections but must still yield to emergency vehicles.

Handbook p. 115 ↗
You're driving in a funeral procession on a highway with a 65 mph limit. What is the fastest you may drive?
  1. 45 mph
  2. 60 mph
  3. 65 mph
  4. 55 mph

Answer: 55 mph

Procession vehicles may not drive faster than 55 mph on a highway with a speed limit of 55 mph or higher.

Handbook p. 116 ↗
An aggressive driver is tailgating you and making rude gestures. What should you do?
  1. Tap your brakes to warn them
  2. Speed up to open a gap
  3. Avoid eye contact and get out of the way
  4. Stop in your lane and wait

Answer: Avoid eye contact and get out of the way

When confronted by an aggressive driver, try to get out of their way, don't challenge them, avoid eye contact and ignore rude gestures.

Handbook p. 112 ↗
Ahead of you is a farm vehicle with an orange warning sign on the back. How should you handle it?
  1. Pull over as for an emergency vehicle
  2. Slow down and give it plenty of space
  3. Stop behind it as for a school bus
  4. Pass it quickly on the right side

Answer: Slow down and give it plenty of space

Slow-moving vehicles carry orange signs; reduce speed, treat them like bicyclists and pedestrians, and leave plenty of space to pass.

Handbook p. 115 ↗
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