Motorcade facts for kids

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

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

Uses of motorcades

VIPs

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

Motorcades can be used as protests and demonstrations. 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

See also: State funeral

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

Motorcade for the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, in Koblenz, Germany, 1965
Presidential motorcade following the inauguration of United States President George W. Bush, January 20, 2001
Funeral motorcade for former United States President Ronald Reagan in Simi Valley, California, 2004
Funeral motorcade of Russian Patriarch Alexy II
The motorcade for the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, on route to 17 Wing CFB Winnipeg, July 3, 2010