Mile marker memorials

Roadside Memorials:  Are informal markers, often adorned with crosses, flowers, photographs, and mementos, placed at the site of fatal accidents to honor and remember victims of traffic incidents. These memorials serve as a physical reminder of lives lost on the road and are often established by family members or friends of the deceased. They are typically found on highways, rural roads, and even in urban settings.

The practice of commemorating accident sites with makeshift shrines has ancient roots, with similar customs seen in different cultures worldwide. In the U.S., roadside memorials became more common in the 20th century, coinciding with the rise of car culture and the expansion of the highway system. The practice has evolved, with crosses often used in Christian countries and symbolic items relevant to the deceased placed at the site.

One early form of this practice can be traced back to "descansos" (meaning “resting places” in Spanish), which were used in the Southwestern U.S. by the Spanish to mark the places where funeral processions would pause while carrying the deceased to a cemetery. This cultural tradition merged with modern transportation systems and tragic accident scenes, thus becoming what we see today as the roadside memorial.

Roadside memorials are frequently found along the Interstate Highway System in the U.S. This system, created by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, consists of over 48,000 miles of highways connecting the nation’s major cities, facilitating commerce, and serving as the backbone of long-distance travel. Unfortunately, the Interstates are also the sites of many fatal accidents due to high speeds and heavy traffic.

States vary in their policies towards roadside memorials. Some allow them to remain indefinitely, while others have time limits or restrictions on size, materials, or placement to avoid safety hazards. Some states have formalized programs, allowing for official markers, such as Florida's blue and white signs that honor DUI victims.

Road fatalities in the U.S. remain a significant public health issue. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), traffic fatalities in the U.S. have hovered between 36,000 and 42,000 annually over the past decade. The numbers can fluctuate due to various factors such as road conditions, vehicle safety standards, and enforcement of traffic laws.

• 2020: 38,824 fatalities (despite less traffic due to COVID-19, risky behaviors like speeding increased)
• 2021: 42,915 fatalities (a marked increase, likely influenced by changes in behavior during the pandemic)

These numbers demonstrate the ongoing risk present on U.S. highways and the importance of traffic safety initiatives. Efforts to reduce fatalities include improving road infrastructure, enhancing vehicle safety features, and enforcing traffic laws more strictly.

Contributing Factors:

1. Distracted Driving: Texting and phone use while driving is a significant contributor to road accidents.
2. Driving Under the Influence: DUI remains a leading cause of fatalities, with many memorials specifically highlighting DUI victims.
3. Speeding: High-speed crashes, especially on Interstates, account for a substantial proportion of fatal accidents.
4. Failure to Wear Seatbelts: Seatbelt non-use contributes significantly to fatalities, particularly in rural areas.
5. Motorcycle Accidents: Motorcycle fatalities, particularly due to their vulnerability in crashes, are also a major concern.

In an effort to reduce the number of fatalities, programs like Vision Zero and the National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS) aim to eliminate all traffic-related deaths by addressing issues in engineering, education, enforcement, and emergency response. Many cities and states are implementing traffic-calming measures, improving crosswalks, and creating safer pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure.

Roadside memorials, while personal and often informal, serve as a somber reminder of the human cost of traffic fatalities and the need for continued attention to road safety in the United States.