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The Roadside Memorial Sign Program allows people who have lost family members in roadway collisions, such as drunk driving or distracted driving, to have a sign installed in memory of the victim and to raise awareness to help prevent future crashes.
The program initially focused on DUI crashes as part of a grassroots effort by family members, but it has since expanded to several other types of fatal crashes, such as distracted driving and crashes involving pedestrians or those on bicycles. Private memorials are not allowed along state roadways due to safety considerations, but the memorial sign program give families a way to safely raise awareness about traffic safety
Signs can be installed for those killed in highway crashes on state roadways. The sign will include a safety message – such as Please Don’t Drink and Drive, Please Don’t Text and Drive, Please Watch for Bicyclists – and then a plaque below that lists the deceased’s name or name of the sponsoring family.
Roadside Memorial Sign information
Request a Roadside Memorial sign
To initiate the process, a letter requesting participation in the Roadside Memorial Sign Program may be sent to:
WSDOT
PO Box 47344
Olympia, WA 98504-7344
(360) 705-7411
The request letter should include:
After receiving a request letter, WSDOT staff review the details and, if approved, provides the requestor with an invoice for the costs and a letter for the requestor to sign that serves as a formal agreement between the department and the requestor. After signing the agreement letter and returning it to the department with payment, the requester is provided his/her copy together with notification that the signs have been ordered. WSDOT handles sign fabrication and installation, which normally takes 90 to 120 days to complete once the sign order is placed.
County or city roadways
WSDOT has no jurisdiction on county roads or city streets, and thus, cannot provide signs along those roadway systems. However, some local agencies have implemented similar programs, and WSDOT staff can provide the name and phone number of a contact person for those agencies having similar programs.
Exceptions
There may be locations that are not suitable for a memorial sign either due to other traffic control signs, safety concerns or city/county ordinances that supersede WSDOT policy for state roads running through local jurisdictions. Every effort will be made to find a suitable location, but there may be cases where it is not feasible.