Roadside memorials and floral tributes etc

[British Bulldog]

If a relative of mine died on the road I would avoid the spot like the plague and most certainly wouldn't want reminding of the spot they died at.

Thats easy to say now but in reality you'll never know how you'll react unless your unfortunate enough to be in that position. I might've thought the same as you years ago but now I often drive past the spot where my nephew died in a car crash and I allways think of him as I do. I'm not a great lover of permanent roadside memorials but I dont see the harm in people putting flowers at the roadside to mark the spot where they lost a loved one. For me it allways acts as serious reminder to watch my speed when I see them.

 

[Cian]

Fairly standard to have a plaque on the wall (if there is one) here for years now, well pre-Diana happening; theres a few very OTT gravestone-alikes though.

 

[Lokki 7]

Cruel to mock people in this country's similar gestures IMHO.

Yes Tom, obviously it would be cruel to mock the grieving, but no one is doing that so it's quite a barbed remark to make. I think this is a fair topic for discussion. About 3,200 people die on British road every year, if there are shrines to every one then they will soon become road hazards themselves and responsible for accidents. Grief is indeed a personal thing, but roads are public places and permanent shrines are simply not in the best interests of road users.

 

[Woodchip]

Has anyone considered that these semi-permanent shrines may end up killing someone? It's quite clear that where ever a roadside shrine is there is a possibility for an accident. Should a motorcyclist come off and there head smash into one of these shrines (where as they may have just slid up a grass bank instead) killing him instantly then are the creators of the "shrine" liable in a court of law?? Surely they have altered the highway in such a manner as to cause the death of another road user.

Also, for anyone the goes by the Badger's Watch in Saltdean, an empty bit of plastic sellotaped to a fence looks shit! Have the flowers at the scene of the accident until the funeral, then get rid, as you've now got a permanent place to remember your loved one. Or why not plant a flower in your garden as reminder of their life? Don't remember them for being dead, but remember them for the live spirit they were.

Rant over!!

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

Been going on for a long time, can remember some of these memorials from when I was learning to drive in 1993. There are still flowers etc at some of the same places now 14 years later.

 

[Uncle C]

I think these serve a valuable road safety purpose.

I have long been of the feeling that accident locations should be better marked.
What better way than a roadside shrine.

That should slow people down.

 

[Lokki 7]

That should slow people down.

Or, they could distract drivers attention at accident blackspots. With thousands of these memorials popping up, it's only a matter of time.

 

[Franks Wild Years]

This idea that we should all remember someone who has died is a little odd I think. Sure we all hope our friends and family remember us fondly when we pass away, but why should I expect someone I've never met to remember me ? I know this sounds really harsh but I really think it is an extension of the 'look at me, Trisha' culture.
Oddly enough, being an athiest, I have more sympathy for people who do it for religious reasons as in the Greek examples.
But as has been said people react to behreavement in different ways, so maybe I'm just a miserable git.

 

[bhaexpress]

Don't care where it started. Whatever means something to the family and friends of the deceased should be utterly respected. Happens in other countries too, y'know. Bit of respect please. They may look naff to you but they mean a helluva lot to people struggling to express their grief.

Agreed, it's not like it does anybody else any harm is it ?

 

[London Calling]

Greece, Spain, Italy I think its a RC remorse thing. Good warning to slow down. You tend to see more in Greece, since their roads until relatively recently were appaling, now their just bad.

 

[goldstone]

This whole thing really really pisses me off. Do people put memorials by the hospital beds their loved ones died in ... no they bloody don't. So why on roadsides?

This makes me SO mad that it is very likely that I will start removing all the ones I see shortly.

 

[Tubby Mondays]

This whole thing really really pisses me off. Do people put memorials by the hospital beds their loved ones died in ... no they bloody don't. So why on roadsides?

I agree. Would be lovely to be admitted to hospital and put into a bed with 700 plaques round it listing everyone thats died in it!

 

[Billy the Fish]

I think these serve a valuable road safety purpose.

I have long been of the feeling that accident locations should be better marked.
What better way than a roadside shrine.

That should slow people down.

That's my take on it, I tend to slow down when I see them.
What is it with people moaning about everything these days, a few flowers or a cross by the side of the road aren't a hazard ffs.

 

[London Calling]

next people be complaining about war memorials as they ruin the view of the town hall?

 

[Woodchip]

...a cross by the side of the road aren't a hazard ffs.

Until it goes through a cyclists skull that was knocked off their bike by a motorist that was distracted by the array of flowers.

 

[Woodchip]

next people be complaining about war memorials as they ruin the view of the town hall?

One per town to remember those that fought for the country, compared to one per corner for those that can't drive (or were involved in an accident caused by someone that can't drive).

 

[Buzzer]

it's all a bit pikey really.

 

[London Calling]

One per town to remember those that fought for the country, compared to one per corner for those that can't drive (or were involved in an accident caused by someone that can't drive).

plus, outside barracks, Police buildings, fire stations, some hospitals, PO HQ, in village greens, they are a mess to our fine heritage and 60's town hall extensions.

 

[Tubby Mondays]

I think these serve a valuable road safety purpose.

I have long been of the feeling that accident locations should be better marked.
What better way than a roadside shrine.

That should slow people down.

Yeah lets put war memorials in every town! Then there will be no more wars!

Its halfwits slowing down to look at the flowers spelling out the name 'Dave' that causes other accidents!

 

[Cian]

plus, outside barracks, Police buildings, fire stations, some hospitals, PO HQ, in village greens, they are a mess to our fine heritage and 60's town hall extensions.

And ye can't even do the ones you've got properly:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_National_War_Memorial_Gardens

*THATS* a war memorial, and it wasn't even our war....