Roadside memorials - Are they a nuisance?

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Roadside Memorials could be dangerous to other road users

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.

But, what do you really think of roadside memorials?

A nuisance or a warning? 

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.

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Roadside Memorials by Mark P. Breau 

Roadside Memorials

Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 12/18/2009)Buy Now

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.

Alternatives to Roadside Memorials 

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.

Sir William Wallace MemorialBut, are there alternatives to roadside memorials? Of course!

Consider these:
1 - 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, Remember Forever, 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.

2 - Name a Rose after your loved one: Rose Names.- Your Rose Bush will be a constant reminder of your loved one.

3 - Register a memorial on the National Memorial Registry. Search the database for roadside memorial regulations of your country, state or city. Register for a free memorial dedication.

4 - Plant a tree or a shrub in memory of your loved one. Make sure you ask for permission first though. Life for a life

5 - Indoor Memorials.

6 - Erect a Bench in a Public Park with a plaque. Memorial Benches, 4 Memorial Bench

7 - A Garden Memorial. Somewhere private for you to grieve. Immortalise - Statues with Heart, Garden Memorials

9 - Publish a Squidoo Lens as an online tribute to your loved one. You can sign up here for FREE!

10 - 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:

'Remember Me' Roadside Memorial Signs - A Sign of Loss. A Sign of Warning. A Sign of Hope?
Lasting Tribute

Roadside Memorials are in the news 

Roadside shrines: Lasting memorial or lasting nuisance?
"RoadPeace actively campaigns for road danger reduction to try and reduce the need for roadside memorials in the first place. "But we acknowledge that where ...
Roadside memorials give families' grief a public face
In a society that discourages prolonged grief, these roadside memorials put it on permanent, public display, a Baylor University social work expert said. ...
Griffo calls for state standards on roadside memorials
Roadside memorials pose a menace to motorist and pedestrian safety, says State Senator Joe Griffo. He wants the state Department of Transportation to ...
Griffo seeks law on roadside memorials
State Sen. Joseph A. Griffo on Friday announced that he is seeking legislation aimed at providing less-distracting memorial displays alongside state ...

Regulations for Roadside Memorials 

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.

Check and register with The National Memorial Registry for rules and regulations regarding Roadside Memorials in your State, County or Country. You will also be able to register a memorial of any kind in its database.

Roadside memorials - Are they a nuisance? 

Your turn to debate!

Are they littering our streets?
Are they a nuisance to other people?
Do they get in the way?
Are they inconsiderately placed, usually on private property?
Do they look untidy especially when they are vandalised, stolen or out of date?

Roadside memorials - Are they a nuisance?

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Yes, you're right!

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.

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.

fefe says:

I agree because it is a big distraction for other drivers.

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.

inkserotica says:

Seriously, if there was an 'in the middle' option, I would choose it. I'm not sure where exactly I would stand. I think laws should be in place to oversee the placing of memorials. Maybe, control what kind of tributes are placed.

No way, Monkeybrain!

sarahjjac says:

no.. it makes you think.. and hopefully makes drivers remember to be safe!

 

 

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My other related Lenses 

More information about roadside memorials 

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.

 

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  • Reply
    aj2008 aj2008 Oct 30, 2008 @ 6:31 am
    What a thought provoking lens. A difficult topic, but presented in a balanced and sensitive way.
  • Reply
    sarahjjac sarahjjac Oct 29, 2008 @ 10:23 pm
    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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Living and working in London, UK as a Freelance Writer and Reviewer. I live at home with my partner, Freelance Fine Arts photogr... (more)

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