Motorcade

convoy of automobiles including an official, their entourage, bodyguards, and a marked police vehicle

A motorcade (or convoy, carcade, autocade) is a number of vehicles driving in the same direction on official business.

Presidential motorcade transporting then-U.S. President George W. Bush in North Carolina, July 2005

Uses of motorcades

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Motorcades can be used to transport a very important person (VIP), usually a political figure. Such a motorcade is usually accompanied by police cars and other protection. This is to make sure the people in the motorcade are safe. For instance, motorcades for presidents often have four to six armoured cars, with police motorcycles and cars going in front and behind.

Depending on the size of the motorcade and who it is carrying, streets may be completely blocked off so no-one else can use them. This is common for the security of heads of state or government.

Protests and demonstrations

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Motorcades can be used as protests and demonstrations.[1] A large, organised, group of vehicles will travel a busy route at very slow speed. They do this to deliberately cause traffic disruption. This is often in relation to protest groups that have access to many large vehicles, such as truckers and farmers.

Funerals

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A funeral cortege is a group of mourners following a hearse in a motorcade of cars. [2]

References

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  1. Doug Bound (1994). "Nonviolent Direct Action and the Diffusion of Power". In Paul Ernest Wehr, Paul Wehr, Heidi Burgess, Guy M. Burgess (ed.). Justice Without Violence. Lynne Rienner Publishers. ISBN 1555874657.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
  2. Gove, Philip B (1984). Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Synonyms. Merriam-Webster. p. 640.

Other websites

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