Get a roadside memorial sign

Since 1994, the Washington State Department of Transportation has offered roadside memorial signs to remember individuals who have lost their lives in traffic collisions. Over the years, the program expanded to address several types of fatal incidents, such as distracted driving, reckless driving and collisions involving motorcycles, bicyclists and pedestrians.

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NOTE: As of January 1, 2024, memorial signs and plaques will use white text on a blue background.  

Policy information

Detailed information about the program is available in our Policy for Roadside Memorials. 

Who can apply

Signs are installed in memory of an individual who lost their life in a collision on a state highway. The sign includes an important safety message and a plaque with the deceased individual's name. Standard safety messages include:

• Please Don't Drink and Drive
• Please Don't Drug and Drive
• Please Don't Speed
• Please Drive Sober
• Please Drive Safely
• Please Ride Safely
• Please Watch for Bicyclists
• Please Watch for Motorcycles
• Please Watch for Pedestrians
• Reckless Driving Costs Lives
• Seat Belts Save Lives
• Stay Alert Drive Safe

How to apply

Memorial signs may be requested only by an immediate family member of the deceased, or by a sponsor with written permission from an immediate family member. Applications must be submitted no more than six years from the date of the collision.

Applicants may request a memorial sign by first filling out the Roadside Memorial Application Form online or by downloading it and submitting it by email to RoadsideMemorial@wsdot.wa.gov. 

• Roadside Memorial Application online form
• Roadside Memorial Application (PDF 117KB)

We will review the application details and, if approved, respond with an agreement letter for the applicant to sign. This letter is the formal agreement between the applicant and WSDOT for all future interactions regarding the memorial sign. 

Cost 

The fee for a roadside memorial sign is $1,500 per location. Applicants are required to pay the cost of the sign, including manufacture, installation and removal by a WSDOT crew. Currently, WSDOT only accepts checks or money orders.

Application process  

When the signed agreement letter and payment have been received, the applicant will be provided a copy of the agreement letter, a receipt and notification that the sign order has been placed. Sign fabrication and installation typically takes between 90 and 120 days from the date the order is placed. 

Sign placement

Signs will be placed as close to the collision site as possible, in the direction of travel in which the collision occurred. Locations may be adjusted to address conflicts with existing signing or specific roadway configurations. For freeways, the memorial signs will be installed along the on-ramp closest to, and in the same direction of travel as, the collision. Signs cannot be placed on freeway mainlines. 

Some locations may not be suitable for a memorial sign. Generally, this is due to safety concerns for our sign crews or the traveling public, but there may also be city or county ordinances that supersede WSDOT policy at that specific location. Every effort will be made to find a suitable location, but there may be cases where it is simply not possible. 

How long do signs stay

Each memorial sign will remain in place and be maintained for ten years from the date of installation. If the sign is stolen, vandalized or damaged in a crash, WSDOT will replace the sign one time with no cost to the applicant. Should a subsequent incident occur, the applicant may choose to continue in the program and pay the $1,500 fee.

 After the deceased has been memorialized for the full ten-year agreement period, applicants may choose to renew the agreement.

Renewal and removal

Renewals may be completed by submitting a new application as described above.

At the end of the ten-year period, applicants will be notified by WSDOT of the pending removal. This allows the applicant the chance to renew the agreement and continue with the sign program. If the applicant chooses not to continue, the associated signs will be removed and stored for 30 days at the nearest maintenance facility, where the applicant can retrieve them. After 30 days, the signs will be recycled. 

Applicants may renew as many times as they choose, provided they pay the $1,500 fee. Applicants can reenter the program up to six years after a memorial sign has been removed.

Private memorials

Due to safety concerns, private memorials are not allowed on any state highway. All private memorials, whether placed alone or in addition to the official memorial sign, will be removed without notice. The contents of private memorials will be removed with care and stored for 30 days at the nearest maintenance facility, where they can be retrieved. 

County or city roadways

Our jurisdiction does not include county roads or city streets, and we cannot provide signs along those roadway systems. However, some local agencies have adopted similar memorial sign programs, and we ask that you contact the appropriate agency for the road or street of interest for additional information.

Applicant contact information

Please keep your contact information up to date. If anything changes, email RoadsideMemorial@wsdot.wa.gov with updated details.