Roadside memorials
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Are Roadside Memorials a nuisance?
When there's a death on the roads, what usually follows is the placement of a roadside memorial. With cyclists it's a ghost bike and with pedestrians it's images of the deceased, condolences and flowers.
Much as I love the idea of roadside memorials I can understand how they can be considered a nuisance to other road users. If they're neglected, vandalised or parts of them stolen they become an eyesore. Sometimes, they are placed in areas that are not considered a public right of way and are erected with no permission granted from the relevant authority.
There are so many other private ways of mourning loved ones, most of which are free. But, what do you really think of roadside memorials?
Image: EA / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Contents at a Glance
Regulations for Roadside Memorials
From local councils or private landowners
As far as I know, at this time, there are no national law or regulations controlling the use of Roadside Memorials.
It may be necessary to check with the local council in the borough that you wish the memorial to be placed. Each Council will have its own laws and regulations overseeing the prohibition or correct placing of Roadside Memorials.
If these are not in place, then permission is required from the owner of the land, fence or post that you wish to lay the memorial at. Do not just place it there and hope that it will be still there the next time you visit! Owners of land etc. are quite within their rights to remove obstructions from their property.
This would also apply internationally; check with the appropriate authorities before placing a Roadside Memorial.
Vote against Roadside Memorials
Roadside Memorials are a nuisance!
Call for roadside memorials
Councils should allow permanent roadside memorials more...1 point
Centre for Death and Society - University of Bath
Centre for Death and Society CDAS, The University more...0 points
Block on permanent roadside memorials
Block on permanent roadside memorials - PERMANENT more...0 points
Heartless and cruel - News - South Manchester Reporter
A MOTHER has hit out at the council for removing r more...0 points
Atheists & Roadside Memorials - Atheist Responses to Roadside Memorial Crosses
It's common to see roadside memorials where people more...0 points
Roadside Memorials by Mark P. Breau
Roadside Memorials
Amazon Price: $24.55 (as of 02/17/2012)
There aren't that many books that highlight Roadside Memorials. This one should give you all the information you will need to pay tribute to your loved ones.
Vote in favour of Roadside Memorials
by adding links here
Roadside Memorials
What lies behind the growing numbers of crosses an more...0 points
Remembering » Roadside memorials
RoadPeace believes that all those bereaved through more...0 points
Roadside memorials - Are they a nuisance?
Your turn to debate!
Roadside memorials - Are they a nuisance?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes, you're right!
BevsPaper says:
Although I can understand the grieving loved ones wanting to have a memorial, I don't think the roadside idea is all that great. They usually become an eyesore and that is no real memorial. I like your ideas above as a good way to remember the loss of a loved one. I think if I lost a loved one in an accident, I probably wouldn't want to pass that way ever again...too much pain.
Posted January 05, 2010
papolly says:
THEY INTERRUPT THE PEACABLE ENJOYMENT OF MY LAND ANDTHE VIEW OF IT EVERYDAY MAKES ME SICKKKK!5'5 TALL GLOW IN THE DARK OBJECT OF DISDAIN.
Posted May 22, 2009
WhitePineLane says:
Like aj2008, I feel there's no way I'd want a permanent memorial at such a place, and personally, I don't like seeing them either. Distracting, untidy, out-of-place... all of those things. Plus I just don't like the idea of marking the spot of death.
Posted March 14, 2009
aj2008 says:
Like Carrie I would prefer a "middle option". And I know that this may seem awful, but every time I see a bouquet of flowers, wrapped in very environmentally unfriendly cellophane paper, I always think: "Why on earth don't they remove the paper?" It wouldn't be so bad if they just placed the flowers there.
We lost a loved one as the result of an accident on a motorway - no way would be want a lasting memorial at the place the accident happened. It would be too public for us and also too distracting to drivers going by. We know the place, we don't need to mark it for anyone else to see.
I certainly think that there should be regulations put in place to control what people can do. Although, don't get me wrong, having been in that position, anyone who loses a loved one suddenly, has my genuine sympathy.
Posted October 30, 2008
No way, Monkeybrain!
Grieving Mother says:
Unless you have lost a child -or a loved one in a roadside crash, you have nothing to say, the world is so selfish, think of someone else beside yourself ...
Posted October 31, 2011
psolis says:
Every time I see one, I am reminded to slow down. I'm not the only one. I've noticed other cars slow down as well. Out of respect for what's happened. There are too many lives lost on the roads & we never notice it. If it wasn't for these markers, we would never think about it. I used to think that the majority of these accidents were caused by drunk drivers - I'm not a drunk driver so what does this have to do with me? was my train of thought. But really, the majority are caused by careless & distracted drivers. And that I can do something about! I use a headset now for any calls. No more texting behind the wheel & full attention to the road. So if this is all that these roadside memorials achieved in me, well thank you for getting my attention. And thank you for opening my eyes.
Posted March 28, 2011
sg says:
No, people need to grieve. When you lose someone you love the last place they lived is important. Some may say this is a little morbid, but for those who have lost someone it is important. For those who have dealt with loss in this way it is part of understanding how it happened. So spending time at the site, however hard, somehow brings them closer to what happened. Even with all the details the pain is not eased, but somehow it helps that people remember that loved one with their flowers and presents. And also that strangers passing may notice that a life was lost.
Posted July 08, 2010
sarahjjac says:
no.. it makes you think.. and hopefully makes drivers remember to be safe!
Posted October 29, 2008
Understanding Bereavement
via Amazon
Find out more about roadside memorials
Links and resources
- Centre for Death and Society - University of Bath
- Centre for Death and Society CDAS, The University of Bath, Social Policy research, Mortality journal Glennys Howarth
- Roadside memorials
- Screen savers and digital photographs of roadside memorials marking traffic fatalities. These roadside crosses often eulogize the victims of drunk drivers.
- Should Roadside Memorials Be Banned? - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com
- Homemade shrines, increasingly common in public places, are the subject of some controversy.
- Roadside Memorials in Ireland; Inscriptions and Photos
- Come in and see the elaborate Crosses, Monuments, Memorials and Inscriptions which can be found at the road verges of Ireland. 700+ memorials (spanning three centuries!) photographed, located and described. REGULAR VISITORS go here for a list of the latest locations.
- States seek alternatives to roadside memorials - USATODAY.com
- As states struggle to balance the public grief of victims' families with the need to maintain safe and distraction-free roads, more are providing unique alternatives.
Roadside Memorials: Should they be removed altogether?
All visitors to this lens can vote, join in with the debate or leave a comment :)
Alternatives to Roadside Memorials
Pay tribute
Roadside memorials are moving tributes to our loved ones; they remind us of where they were killed, they keep us remembering, they give us somewhere to mourn them at the same time every year and they gives us an extra memorial to them aside from their graves.
But, are there alternatives to roadside memorials?
Consider these:
- Publish a tribute/memorial website for your loved one. You can either set up your own website or use one of these services: Gone too Soon, much loved. Most of these kinds of services are free but they may give you an option to upgrade to give you access to more features and services.
- Name a Rose after your loved one: Rose Names.- Your Rose Bush will be a constant reminder of your loved one.
- Plant a tree or a shrub in memory of your loved one. Make sure you ask for permission first though. Life for a life
- Indoor Memorials.
- Erect a Bench in a Public Park with a plaque. Memorial Benches
- A Garden Memorial. Somewhere private for you to grieve.
- Publish a Squidoo Lens as an on line tribute to your loved one. You can sign up here for FREE!
- Scatter your loved-ones ashes (only can be done if they were cremated) in a place that was important to them. Eternal Ascent Society
Additional Resources:
Lasting Tribute
Memorial Slate
Pendants, lockets etc.
Roadside Memorials in the news
Reports and advice
- City adopts new policy for roadside memorials
- (KAWARTHA LAKES) Roadside memorials to the victims of fatal motor vehicle crashes raise strong opinions, and Ward 3 Councillor David Hodgson got his share of grief over the issue on Tuesday (Feb. 7). City of Kawartha Lakes council voted against his ...
- Removal of roadside memorials under way
- A council spokesman said: ?We have slowly begun to implement our policy regarding roadside memorials in conjunction with the police and their family liaison officers. ?For those memorials where we have received clearance from the police to do so, ...
- Roadside memorials important to grief-stricken
- 30 letter to the editor, ?Crash site is wrong place to remember loved ones,? I was shocked and outraged by the cold and callous remarks about roadside memorials. Who is this letter writer, who admits that he never had to grieve a loved one lost in a ...
- Manitoba denies memorial for dead cows
- ?Roadside memorials are for families and communities mourning the loss of loved ones,? said government spokeswoman Rachel Morgan. ?We will not be granting PETA its request.? That decision will likely be appealed, said Emily Lavender, the Ottawa-based ...
Comments
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hulmelife
Jan 15, 2011 @ 10:25 am | delete
- I recently came across your lens and have been reading posts. I thought I would leave a
comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice lense. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
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OhMe
Jan 24, 2010 @ 6:42 pm | delete
- You have really stimulated a good debate with interesting statements on both sides. Thank you for adding this to the plexo on my Monkeybrain lens.
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BevsPaper
Jan 5, 2010 @ 7:12 am | delete
- Great work on a tough topic! Roadside memorials can be very distracting even though the original thought was one of love and grief.
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aj2008
Oct 30, 2008 @ 6:31 am | delete
- What a thought provoking lens. A difficult topic, but presented in a balanced and sensitive way.
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sarahjjac
Oct 29, 2008 @ 10:23 pm | delete
- Everytime I see one of these I think of accidents and lost love ones. I think it makes people more cautious to pay attention to the road. I see nothing wrong with doing this. Hey taxpayers own that land so why can't they mourn their loved ones in this manner!!
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by inkserotica
I'm a Freelance Writer and Reviewer, who will try her hand at anything. I have a passion for the paranormal, forensics, true-crime, horror, video games,... more »
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