Do you have to yield or pull over for a funeral procession in Texas?

Note: The above video shows the top headlines from the morning of May 13, 2025.

LUBBOCK, Texas — It’s common for drivers to pull over on the side of the road when a family is bringing their loved ones to their final resting place, but it’s also common to see other drivers continue on their way.

This begs the question: who’s in the right? Is it legal to keep going while passing a funeral procession? Do you have to pull over?

The answer – in Texas, at least – is no. There is no official state or federal law that requires Texans to yield for a funeral procession, but that comes with a caveat.

The funeral procession will still have the right-of-way at any intersection. Meaning that while you don’t have to yield for the procession, their drive comes first and that will be upheld in a court of law.

Even if it’s not illegal to not yield for a funeral procession, it still shows respect to the deceased and their families. This is the last time a family will see a loved one, so it’s better to pull over or simply wait your turn than to roll your eyes and complain about being late to work.

Seargent Adrien Briseno with Lubbock’s DPS office did, however, issue a warning to both those that yield and those that don’t.

“Both of those that choose not to pull over and those that do need to remember safety for themselves and others on the roadway.,” Briseno said. “Use due care when continuing on and when pulling over. Do not interfere with anyone on the roadway. Safety first.”