20080621 SHA to reaffirm policy on roadside memorials by Beth Ward

SHA to reaffirm policy on roadside memorials

By Beth Ward, Carroll County Times Staff Writer Saturday, June 21, 2008

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… The tribute was one of hundreds placed along the state’s highways memorializing people who died in traffic accidents. However, the practice of erecting roadside memorials violates state law and, according to officials, poses a safety risk for drivers and highway workers, as well as for friends and family who stop at the memorials.

On Friday afternoon, the State Highway Administration posted its policy for roadside memorials on its Web site. David Buck, SHA spokesman, said the agency is reaffirming the policy that has been in place because of the increased number of roadside memorials dotting the state’s highways.

“It’s gotten to the point we needed to do that,” Buck said. “We are not doing a massive sweep; we are reaffirming what has always been our policy.”

According to the SHA Web site, federal and state laws prohibit the placement of anything on state property along state roads, including roadsides, medians or on utility poles.

Buck said the state’s right-of-way is typically from utility pole to utility pole. The law does not single out roadside memorials, but anything placed on state property near roadways, he said.

“Anything in our right-of-way takes away peoples’ first responsibility of paying attention to the road,” Buck said.

With the warm weather, Buck said the memorials pose a problem because of the mowing that takes place. If a worker doesn’t notice a memorial, it could be dangerous for the worker and passing motorists if it gets tangled in the mower’s blades, he said.

When a memorial is removed by state workers, it is kept intact and held at the local maintenance facility for two weeks, so it can be reclaimed, and every effort is made to contact the owners, Buck said.

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Other states have grappled with the issue of balancing road safety and maintenance with accommodating grieving friends and families. Some states have developed standardized signs, while others allow the memorials only in certain circumstances. Some have banned the practice completely.

With the increasing number of roadside memorials, Buck said the agency is trying to provide safe alternatives. One alternative that is already available is to adopt a highway in memory of a loved one, Buck said.

Reach staff writer Beth Ward at 410-751-5908 or beth.ward AT carrollcountytimes.com.

More information

The State Highway Administration’s policy for roadside memorials can be found under the Frequently Asked Questions section of its Web site here

For more information or to adopt a highway in Carroll County, contact the State Highway Administration’s Westminster Maintenance Shop at 410-848-6565 or 800-807-8449.

Read the entire article here: SHA to reaffirm policy on roadside memorials