Roadside memorials

What are our thoughts on these? Memorials for those who were killed in a roadside accident? The ceremony or just the memorials left on the road after?

I was surprised that apparently, a lot of people have vitriolic reactions to them, either complaining that they cause traffic jams, are actually dangerous to drivers (or in the case of people placing the memorial at the site, dangerous to them... or that it's morbid to go to the scene of a loved one's demise.

I can see the last one, but I feel like it only matters how the grieving family feels about it.

I don't know that I would have one. Especially if you visit the scene soon after the accident, there might be items not yet cleaned up which might cause a visceral reaction.

But ultimately, I find them mostly harmless. I used one as an excuse to yell at my mother when we were in Queens, and she almost jaywalked into oncoming traffic ("You see that sign, mom? That means people have been hit here before - wait for the fuckin' light to change!")

It's sad when they just rot away and there's just some dried up stalks tied to a lamppost with and some faded rain-smeared words on a soggy piece of card.

see also Ghost Bikes

There were lots of these when I was in Poland about 20 years ago, I guess because a)Catholic country, and b)shitty drivers and worse roads (apparently the roads there are better now, not sure about the drivers).

i like roadside memorials! they make me feel sad! ghost bikes! floral offerings, perhaps with a photograph of the deceased! glasgow classic: tons of celtic and rangers scarfs tied round railings

Ours are usually crosses and flowers.

But I've seen some very elaborate ones as well that were well done.

There’s one nearby where I live
It makes me remember that you can actually get killed that close to home

An old acquaintance of mine passed away on I-75 en route to Georgia a decade ago. I used to eerily wonder if I'd see one for her when I'd take road trips there

glasgow classic: tons of celtic and rangers scarfs tied round railings

There's one in Caledonian Road, in London, I pass by it to and from work, which is a plaque - in green and white hoops - to a 15 year-old who got stabbed to death for his bike. Always makes me sad to see it.