Roadside Memorials - Should they be removed?

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Klipspringer

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#136639 4-Dec-2013 09:30

Maybe its just me but I have noticed a large increase in the amount of roadside memorials between Wellington and Kapiti. Sadly each and every one of these memorials are assosiated with a death.

What are your thoughts on having them removed after a couple of months?

My thoughts are

- They can be a distraction to drivers. There is one particular one I noticed yesterday at Paekakariki with a flag. I have also seen some with those spinning windmills.
- They will forever be on the increase because people will continue to die on roads and there is not much that can be done about it.
- These memorials are normally found on the most dangerous parts of our roads. I have seen people stopping before in these places to have a look or put down flowers. Cars stopping in dangerous places.

Either way this is a very sensitive subject and I believe they do have their place. My question is for how long? Should they just be left?

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#945131 4-Dec-2013 09:32

simple answer: no.

Aaroona

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#945132 4-Dec-2013 09:38

reven: simple answer: no.

Thanks for an enlightening answer...

"NO" they shouldn't be removed? Or NO they shouldn't be left?

At least explain your answer to a degree that would make sense.

/rant

Personally, I'd prefer they were removed. As you pointed out, people are going to continue to die and people are going to keep erecting them. Before you know it, there won't be room left on the road.

It's not to do with respect, there are places you can go to pay your respects.

Just my opinion at least..

Klipspringer

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#945135 4-Dec-2013 09:40

Aaroona:
Personally, I'd prefer they were removed. As you pointed out, people are going to continue to die and people are going to keep erecting them. Before you know it, there won't be room left on the road.

It's not to do with respect, there are places you can go to pay your respects.

Just my opinion at least..

Agreed

or we should at least have some guidelines which have to be adhered to as to what is/is not allowed.

reven

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#945138 4-Dec-2013 09:46

they shouldnt be removed, they mean very little to others, they mean a lot to people who have lost someone.

MikeB4

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#945142 4-Dec-2013 09:51

No they shouldn't. They are a memorial to lives needlessly lost.

Best way to stop their numbers growing is ...

*Slow down
*Drive to the rules and drive to the conditions
*Drink zero alcohol and take zero drugs before driving
*And generally don't prat around on the roads

Klipspringer

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#945146 4-Dec-2013 09:53

KiwiNZ: No they shouldn't. They are a memorial to lives needlessly lost.

Best way to stop their numbers growing is ...

*Slow down
*Drive to the rules and drive to the conditions
*Drink zero alcohol and take zero drugs before driving
*And generally don't prat around on the roads

The problem with those points you listed is that the other driver also needs to abide by them.

Aaroona

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#945148 4-Dec-2013 09:53

KiwiNZ: No they shouldn't. They are a memorial to lives needlessly lost.

Best way to stop their numbers growing is ...

*Slow down
*Drive to the rules and drive to the conditions
*Drink zero alcohol and take zero drugs before driving
*And generally don't prat around on the roads

While I do agree with you, good luck enforcing that.

We have a lot of policing out and still, people are being killed on the road.

Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate it being a memorial as such, but how about this: someone dies outside your driveway. Theres now a cross and frequent flowers dropped there. You're now reminded every day you leave or enter your home that someone died right there.

FYI: the situation I am explaining above, I had a friend die outside someone house up the road. I most certainly wouldn't expect them to have a cross there. Yes it's important that I remember what happned there, and I do every time >I< drive past. But why should some one living in the house right behind it have to see it every time they enter/leave their place?

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surfisup1000

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#945154 4-Dec-2013 10:02

I have no problem with them myself.

I think there was one down in Nelson perhaps, which became really huge and people complained.

In fact, a couple of times i've spotted them and double checked my speed. So , probably a good thing.

andrewNZ

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#945156 4-Dec-2013 10:04

I have 2 issues with them.

1) These things are often in hairy places, and people stop and tend to them. That's a hazard, and the only thing more tragic than someone dying there, would be someone else dying there because they were tending to the decorations.

2) That's what cemeteries are for.

kingjj

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#945160 4-Dec-2013 10:07

Wasn't this topic covered in the media last year or the year before after NZTA were caught out removing memorials by grieving family? IIRC Cambell Live or similar did one of their usual emotionally charged 'stories' on it and NZTA backed off saying the memorials could stay. Seemed public consensus at the time was to let them stay but keep them tasteful and minimal. Will try and find source when get home.

BlueShift

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#945162 4-Dec-2013 10:08

Aaroona:
KiwiNZ: No they shouldn't. They are a memorial to lives needlessly lost.

Best way to stop their numbers growing is ...

*Slow down
*Drive to the rules and drive to the conditions
*Drink zero alcohol and take zero drugs before driving
*And generally don't prat around on the roads

While I do agree with you, good luck enforcing that.

We have a lot of policing out and still, people are being killed on the road.

Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate it being a memorial as such, but how about this: someone dies outside your driveway. Theres now a cross and frequent flowers dropped there. You're now reminded every day you leave or enter your home that someone died right there.

We don't commemorate any other places that people die. We memorialise most people with headstones, or plaques. Some people dedicate a park bench or public building. We don't see people putting up crosses in hospitals, or nursing homes, or people's houses. My workmate died in his rented home, we didn't stick up a cross in the middle of his lounge for the landlord to deal with, we planted a tree in a green space at work, and put a bench with a plaque next to it.
I appreciate the sentiment of the roadside crosses, but there's better ways to remember the dead than attempting to sanctify the spot they they died.

Inphinity

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#945163 4-Dec-2013 10:08

I think there need to be some sort of restrictions and guidelines about what is and isn't appropriate, but I don't have an issue with a small memorial of some sort. I have driven past one that had a large (about A2 sized) banner with photos and words and suck, and was very distracting, and at first glance appeared to be a road sign of some sort - causing this sort of distraction in an already-dangerous area is only asking for trouble. But a small cross with some flowers is fine.

MikeB4

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#945165 4-Dec-2013 10:09

Klipspringer:
KiwiNZ: No they shouldn't. They are a memorial to lives needlessly lost.

Best way to stop their numbers growing is ...

*Slow down
*Drive to the rules and drive to the conditions
*Drink zero alcohol and take zero drugs before driving
*And generally don't prat around on the roads

The problem with those points you listed is that the other driver also needs to abide by them.

That is my point, they apply to everyone, so many seem to think that the rules are optional and the roads a play ground

MikeB4

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#945166 4-Dec-2013 10:12

BlueShift:
Aaroona:
KiwiNZ: No they shouldn't. They are a memorial to lives needlessly lost.

Best way to stop their numbers growing is ...

*Slow down
*Drive to the rules and drive to the conditions
*Drink zero alcohol and take zero drugs before driving
*And generally don't prat around on the roads

While I do agree with you, good luck enforcing that.

We have a lot of policing out and still, people are being killed on the road.

Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate it being a memorial as such, but how about this: someone dies outside your driveway. Theres now a cross and frequent flowers dropped there. You're now reminded every day you leave or enter your home that someone died right there.

We don't commemorate any other places that people die. We memorialise most people with headstones, or plaques. Some people dedicate a park bench or public building. We don't see people putting up crosses in hospitals, or nursing homes, or people's houses. My workmate died in his rented home, we didn't stick up a cross in the middle of his lounge for the landlord to deal with, we planted a tree in a green space at work, and put a bench with a plaque next to it.
I appreciate the sentiment of the roadside crosses, but there's better ways to remember the dead than attempting to sanctify the spot they they died.

There are memorials at , Cave Creek, Tangiwai, Both sides of Wellington harbour entrance etc etc

If the placing of a memorial helps the healing process I see no harm.

Klipspringer

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#945193 4-Dec-2013 10:25

KiwiNZ:
Klipspringer:
KiwiNZ: No they shouldn't. They are a memorial to lives needlessly lost.

Best way to stop their numbers growing is ...

*Slow down
*Drive to the rules and drive to the conditions
*Drink zero alcohol and take zero drugs before driving
*And generally don't prat around on the roads

The problem with those points you listed is that the other driver also needs to abide by them.

That is my point, they apply to everyone, so many seem to think that the rules are optional and the roads a play ground

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.

We use to have an advanced driving course in South Africa which I took. It taught me so much about how to handle a car properly, and how to think about what that other driver may/may not do. Its probably the best course I have ever taken.

There is far more to safe driving than just slowing down, driving sober etc..

You will always have the "other driver". Rather drive to his unexpected behaviour instead of saying he should/should not do this or that.

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

The "Slow Down" point will obviously always prevent crashes. Its a moot point. Because slowing down will always be safer, if we want to prevent road deaths there is a simple solution. Slow down to 0km/h.

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