Roadside Memorials

[kriskwery]

I sometimes notice small placards at the roadside commemorating fatal accidents. All I spot when driving is a poppy and a name. Is there a web site where one can learn a little more?

[kempie]

http://www.roadpeace.org/internetmemorials/sea rch.php?list=alpha&letter=any

[dot.hawkes]

oh my giddy aunt, ain't t'internet a wonderful place?

[stewey]

Have to agree with Dot: what a morbid preoccupation. Same as when something untoward happens and people drop off stuffed animals, flowers, crosses, and meaningful mementos for someone they have no connection with: some type of mass hysteria?

[Richkent]

I see this all the time and cant help wondering why you would want to keep reminding yourself of where your loved one had a tragic accident. If you die in your sleep your family dont come round to sellotape flowers to the bedpost every couple of weeks. The majority I see on the road are a bunch of dead flowers wrapped up in polythene and stuck to a road sign. Wheres the love and respect in that?

[kriskwery]

I'm not entirely convinced these things (they're about A4 size and often quite inconspicuous) ARE there to help the grieving (though I think we should respect people's right to grieve in whichever form they wish .... though I do take exception to some roadside memorials that are so OTT they wouldn't look out of place in a municipal park). I sometimes think they're there to annoy the perpetrator of the accident who still travels the same road. For the rest of us, they serve as a salutary reminder to drive carefully and safely cos you never know what may happen round the next bend.

My particular reason for posing the question is that I've recently seen one with the name of a person from my schooldays (over 40 years ago in a distant part of the country) and was intrigued whether or not is was indeed she or another with the same name - the deceased person's age might well have cinched it. So, not really morbid at all, just curious.

The website given in the first answer (thanks!) had no entry for the name, though it would appear it is only an internet service and has nothing to do with the roadside scheme. I'll try to find an opportunity to stop next time I see one of these placard to see if there's any small print!