Citation

Ross C. Am. City Cty. 1998; 113(5): 3 p..

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Penton Media)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

The Federal Highway Administration and some states prohibit roadside memorials to those who have died in traffic accidents for a number of reasons, including safety. However, they are increasingly common. In fact, in probably no other area of public life does public practice diverge so dramatically from official policy. Nevada, California, and Wyoming prohibit roadside memorials because they may distract drivers, but officials agree the markers provide closure for victims' friends and families. Supporters of the memorials argue that they represent no more of a distraction than the massive, blinking billboards common along many highways. Additionally, they argue that the memorials break up the monotony of the road, and thus may help prevent accidents. Some states prohibit the memorials because of the maintenance hassle. Finally, critics question whether crosses on public land are appropriate.


Keywords: Driver distraction;