Thursday, 21 June 2012

Should you be allowed to put roadside memorials there ?

 this is a link to a news video on roadside memorials and should they be allowed after a 30 day period ?

 
It is becoming increasingly common to drive past roadside memorials dedicated to those who have died.
For many leaving flowers and cards at the scene has become part of the grieving process.
But now some councils are deciding to impose time limits on these impromptu tributes.


Against roadside memorials:
1. A memorial can create a hazard, distracting passing motorists.
2. The placement and maintenance of memorials can in itself involve a road safety risk.
3. A religious memorial is best placed in a religious setting, e.g. a churchyard or cemetery.
4. Memorials, plaques or signs (eg Remember Me - RoadPeace) placed on the highway, on a wall or existing street furniture may add to clutter.
5. There are insurance and liability issues in the event of an accident occurring as a result of a driver being distracted.
6. A memorial may interfere with routine maintenance such as grass-cutting.

For Roadside Memorials:
1. The laying down of flowers can be an important part of the grieving process and people should be allowed to express their grief in this way.
2. A memorial can act as a warning to road users of the possible dangers of the location

Other Relevant Factors
1. The Highways Act 1980 has no express provision to license or permit memorials on the highway.
2. There are legal traffic signs specifically to warn of potential hazards.
3. Roadside memorials are a relatively recent development in the UK, there is no tradition or deep cultural reason supporting this practice.
4. There is a difference between laying down flowers and creating a permanent memorial and the judgement as to what is a reasonable time for floral tributes can only be subjective.
5. A bench or tree with a small dedication may be an acceptable permanent memorial as long as there are no road safety implications.
6. The visual impact of memorials will be different in rural and urban locations
7. There is a view that placing memorials on the highway is maudlin and unhealthy.Could distract road users.
could be seen as unessacery clutter to the environment !!

Road Saftly
Could distract other road users

Maintinance:
Continuing cost, plus safety risk to maintenance operative.

No impact on Congestion and Accesability


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