Roadside memorials to be restricted in size, removed after 13 months, under new rules considered by VicRoads

Updated

New restrictions on roadside memorials marking the scene of fatal crashes are being considered by Victoria's road authority, including rules about colour, size and how long they can remain.

VicRoads has released a discussion paper outlining proposed changes to the policy, which has not been updated in more than 15 years.

Roadside memorials are typically placed at the scene to pay tribute to the victim.

The proposal includes restricting the size of roadside memorials to 60x40 centimetres and prohibiting them from being attached to roadside infrastructure.

It said memorial crosses should be made of wood and left a neutral colour or painted in non-reflective white paint.

At first I suppose we didn't even think about what we were doing. It was a natural reaction, everyone puts a cross up. Vicki Richardson

The proposal also said offensive symbols and language would not be allowed, nor representations of weapons or items such as beer cans and alcohol.

It said roadside memorials may be moved on after 13 months, or earlier if it caused concern within the community.

Vicki Richardson's daughter Brooke died on a road near Cobram, in northern Victoria two and a half years ago, said the family erected a cross in her memory.

"At first I suppose we didn't even think about what we were doing. It was a natural reaction, everyone puts a cross up," Ms Richardson said.

But she said someone who lived nearby complained, and the cross was moved slightly further away but was being vandalised and damaged.

Eventually a plaque with a photo near the spot was agreed upon.

VicRoads said it understood roadside memorials were an important part of the grieving process for some and provided a place to remember a lost loved one.

But it had concerns the memorials could be distracting and upsetting to those affected by the tragedy.

Ms Richardson said she felt it was impossible to please everyone.

"It's such a personal situation and such an emotional situation and everyone has so many different views that I really don't think that everyone is ever going to be pleased," she said.

"You're always going to have conflict I suppose with, you know, it's such a personal thing."

Popular support for roadside memorials

A discussion paper has been released after a consultation period in which nearly 4,500 people took part.

A survey of about 200 people found almost two-thirds were supportive of using roadsides as a place to remember lost loved ones.

About 60 per cent said roadside memorials encouraged them to drive more safely.

But about half said they found roadside memorials distracting and 53 per cent were supportive of roadside memorials having a more consistent appearance.

Road Trauma Support Services Victoria counsellor Bernadette Nugent has been involved in a working group that helped shape the proposed guidelines.

She said she hoped the guidelines would open up dialogue between families mourning their loved ones and local people who sometimes found the memorials distressing.

"For me the proposal, I hope, will just be a way of opening up communication between VicRoads and the people wanting to put the sites up," she said.

"I don't think it's purposely trying to be too restrictive.

"I think they're really just trying to take into consideration all viewpoints."

Victoria's Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said he had not approved any of the changes and was yet to receive a full report from VicRoads for consideration.

He refused to comment on any specifics of the proposals.

"I haven't received the full report from VicRoads yet so I'm not supportive or otherwise at this stage," he said.

"I haven't ruled in or ruled out anything.

"In due course ... we would again go back to the community and get feedback on any proposed changes we're putting forward."

The revised policy is due to be put in place by the second half of this year.

Topics: accidents, death, states-and-territories, state-parliament, vic

First posted