Roadside memorials: making grief visible

Roadside memorials are an increasingly common phenomenon. They are placed to mark the site of fatal road accidents or other sudden deaths and can take many forms, ranging from simple floral tributes to so-called ‘ghost bicycles’. These memorials make grief very visible and can be of great importance to bereaved families and friends as a marker of the place where their loved one died. They also serve as a warning of the dangers of the road and for other road users to take greater care. There can be some opposition to these memorials, particularly from national and local authorities, although campaign organisations have called for greater sensitivity towards and awareness of their significance.