Roadside Memorials - Should they be removed?

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#945365 4-Dec-2013 14:08

Good background as to why they were introduced to NZ: http://www.nzgeographic.co.nz/archives/issue-54/roadside-crosses (2001), in a nut shell: introduced as part of a road safety campaign by a group of citizens, Transit disapproved, lots of removal and return until the status quo now. The crosses do carry meaning for family's and communities and seem to have become an accepted form of grieving our horrific history of driving related deaths. Arguing that they are a potentially dangerous distraction for drivers is like saying that all advertising signage is a potentially dangerous distraction to drivers (as KiwiNZ expands on)... wheres the line.

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#945372 4-Dec-2013 14:15

I don't mind them so much, just another roadside object... perhaps a time limit on how long they should be there ? Allow them up for a few weeks then remove them ? It's not like the person who died is still there.

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#945436 4-Dec-2013 15:48

Yes. They are ridiculous.

If your relative dies in bed 3, ward 7 of Wellington hospital, you don't pop a white cross and a spinning windmill by the bed ad infinitum, do you?

I've been toying with the idea of erecting some spoof ones with names like "Drunk Moron", "Speeding Fool" and "Drugged Up".....

MikeB4

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#945437 4-Dec-2013 15:51

Geektastic: Yes. They are ridiculous.

If your relative dies in bed 3, ward 7 of Wellington hospital, you don't pop a white cross and a spinning windmill by the bed ad infinitum, do you?

I've been toying with the idea of erecting some spoof ones with names like "Drunk Moron", "Speeding Fool" and "Drugged Up".....

The bad taste does not surprise me

A world that has gone totally insane.

Geektastic

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#945439 4-Dec-2013 15:55

Bung:
Klipspringer: I would rather see people learn to drive to hazardous conditions, learn to drive to the unexpected, and learn how to control their car in the worst possible scenario.

Our roads are a dangerous place and we should learn to drive to the conditions.

Driving behaviour is important but the road design should try to stop mistakes being death sentences.

Often the memorials are at the base of a pole that is too close to the road or at the end of an overtaking lane that stupidly merges on a corner.

I have to agree with this. I did a lot of civils work with road building in a former life and the design here leaves a great deal to be desired. Vision distances on junctions are often poor and often obscured by cars being allowed to park too close to the junction or signposts being plonked right in the driver's vision line.

Cambers are often wrong, crash barriers poor or non-existent and street lighting at junctions often missing. Then we have the madness of allowing cars and pedestrians the green light at the same time on pelican crossings in Wellington...!

The non-reflective white paint used on NZ roads is also detrimental to safe driving at night and in reduced visibility. Why don't they use the paint required in Europe that has glass beads in it and makes the white lines light up in your headlights?

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#945440 4-Dec-2013 15:56

KiwiNZ:
Geektastic: Yes. They are ridiculous.

If your relative dies in bed 3, ward 7 of Wellington hospital, you don't pop a white cross and a spinning windmill by the bed ad infinitum, do you?

I've been toying with the idea of erecting some spoof ones with names like "Drunk Moron", "Speeding Fool" and "Drugged Up".....

The bad taste does not surprise me

Bu**er bad taste: if they are meant to be a deterrent, my idea is probably more effective than the real ones.

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#945590 4-Dec-2013 19:16

Coming back to a comment made earlier- possibly OK on an open road, but not by someones front gate.
And a memorial (i.e small white cross with name) may be more acceptable than an exhibition (lights, windmills etc.)

josephhinvest

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#945597 4-Dec-2013 19:31

Found this information on the CAB website.
The NZTA guidelines are pretty specific and seem very reasonable to me.

• There should be only one cross at the site.
• A cross is generally allowed on a rural state highway, but not on a motorway or motorway off- or on-ramp, nor if it could become a driving hazard at that location.
• If the road has been substantially improved since the accident, then a cross won't be allowed on the site.
• If the cross is to be erected on the road reserve (the area from the property boundary on one side of the road to the property boundary on the other side of the road) then it should be placed as close as practical to the fence line.
• If the cross will be on private property or on the fence line you have to consult with the owner of the property first.
• The cross must meet specific requirements regarding size and construction.
• You have to notify the local NZTA of it's exact location so that the cross is not disturbed during normal road maintenance.
• You would be responsible for any repairs to the cross and keeping it tidy, and for removing the cross when required.

Cheers,
Joseph

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#945693 4-Dec-2013 21:23

I must be missing something, I thought the topic was about memorials, not NZTA white crosses.

Like this one https://www.google.co.nz/maps/preview#!data=!1m8!1m3!1d3!2d170.406291!3d-45.902338!2m2!1f71.39!2f63.12!4f75!2m7!1e1!2m2!1s5kuZ1EIBRz49BeYK2KlzNQ!2e0!5m2!1s5kuZ1EIBRz49BeYK2KlzNQ!2e0&fid=5
It's fairly small and not overly distracting, but someone still stops on the motorway to tend it.

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#945845 5-Dec-2013 08:10

I think they should be removed, yes its a sad loss for the family but they often are in dangerous places. In regards to a memorial thats what cemeteries and pictures are for.

I to have seen road side memorials where people have pulled over and laying flowers as well as tipping out a beer for their mate that died drink driving.... That I found a little odd.

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#945856 5-Dec-2013 08:43

I sit here wondering how many of those thinking these should be removed because approx 1 meter x 1 meter cross is so very dangerous use their cell phones when driving, change their Stereo settings or GPS settings whilst driving and drive after drinking.

A world that has gone totally insane.

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#945858 5-Dec-2013 08:46

KiwiNZ: I sit here wondering how many of those thinking these should be removed because approx 1 meter x 1 meter cross is so very dangerous use their cell phones when driving, change their Stereo settings or GPS settings whilst driving and drive after drinking.

Personally I have no issues with a simple cross.
Its all the spinning wheels and flags that seem to go with it.

MikeB4

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#945873 5-Dec-2013 08:57

Klipspringer:
KiwiNZ: I sit here wondering how many of those thinking these should be removed because approx 1 meter x 1 meter cross is so very dangerous use their cell phones when driving, change their Stereo settings or GPS settings whilst driving and drive after drinking.

Personally I have no issues with a simple cross.
Its all the spinning wheels and flags that seem to go with it.

That is a cultural thing and needs to be respected

A world that has gone totally insane.

Klipspringer

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#945877 5-Dec-2013 09:09

KiwiNZ:

That is a cultural thing and needs to be respected

Sorry can't say I agree with that.
Care to explain

Kyanar

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#945906 5-Dec-2013 09:30

KiwiNZ:
Klipspringer:
KiwiNZ: I sit here wondering how many of those thinking these should be removed because approx 1 meter x 1 meter cross is so very dangerous use their cell phones when driving, change their Stereo settings or GPS settings whilst driving and drive after drinking.

Personally I have no issues with a simple cross.
Its all the spinning wheels and flags that seem to go with it.

That is a cultural thing and needs to be respected

Where said cultural thing creates a hazard; no, no it does not.

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