Regulation Change Allows Purple Flashing Lights on Funeral Vehicles

A change to provincial regulations for vehicle warning lights will allow the lead car in a funeral procession to use a purple flashing or revolving light on a highway.

"The regulations were amended in response to requests from funeral directors to have purple lights on the lead vehicle in a funeral procession to alert other drivers to the presence of the procession," said Brooke Taylor, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal.

While drivers in a funeral procession traditionally turned on headlights to differentiate the procession from other highway traffic, this practice is less effective with the widespread use of daytime running lights.

The rules in the Motor Vehicle Act for funeral processions have not changed and apply whether or not the lead vehicle has a purple light. Drivers are prohibited from interrupting the funeral vehicles by driving through or into the procession, except at a traffic signal.

An increasing number of provinces allow funeral procession vehicles to display flashing purple lights and use is relatively widespread in the United States.

The amendments support government's priority to keep communities safe.