Roadside Memorial Program

Help us formulate the future of the program

Washington was the first state to honor the victims of fatal collisions through its Roadside Memorial Program, which offers signs on the side of the road that feature their name and a safety message. Since the program began in 1994, it has grown to include more than a thousand signs along roadways across the state. Highways look very different from 30 years ago, with more traffic, more signs and more distractions. The Washington State Department of Transportation is seeking public feedback on how to best remember victims, share a safety message and maintain a safe right of way.

An alternative to private memorials

Private memorials are not allowed along state highways because of safety concerns. Roadside memorial signs provide a safe alternative to the placement of private or ad hoc memorials. These sites must be removed by WSDOT because they pose several safety risks, both for the people putting them up and others who may want to stop by the memorial and items possibly falling or blowing into traffic lanes and passing drivers, perhaps distracted by the memorial or activity nearby. WSDOT tries to work with families before removing unauthorized memorials but that may not always be possible. The contents of these memorials will be removed with care and stored for 30 days at a maintenance facility where loved ones can retrieve the items.

A history remembrance

In 1993, the Washington State Transportation Commission approved the idea of placing regulatory signs on highways to support grieving families and deter drunk driving. The commission asked WSDOT to put together the program and in spring 1994, the first sign went up in honor of Frank and Emily McClenney on State Route 125.

Over the next decade WSDOT expanded the safety messaging to discourage speeding, distracted driving and drug use. Federal Highway Administration guidelines required that signs were not installed on interstates. A single safety message stating “Please Don’t Drink and Drive” with a supplemental plaque below reading “In Memory of (Victim’s Name)” was installed in each direction of travel.

Initially, to qualify for a memorial sign, the fatality must have occurred in a collision where the driver causing the crash was convicted of vehicular homicide. The original program also allowed memorial signs for victims if they were killed by DWI drivers who were fatally injured and had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher.

About the signs

Program expansion

In 2007, a five-year evaluation of the program found that people were familiar with the signs, and it expanded to include other victims of fatal collisions on state highways.

Five additional safety messages were added to incorporate factors such as speeding, seat belt usage, pedestrian and motorcycle-related issues. Signs were to be requested by families, or a sponsor and the cost rose to $950.

With the addition of multiple safety messages, the requirement for a conviction along with a blood alcohol reading above .08 were removed. There are now 12 options for safety messages:

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

Sign replacement

Over the years many signs sat undisturbed when they should have been considered for replacement. The WSDOT policy for replacement or renewal was inconsistent and not evenly administered. At one time, sign replacement was recommended between 7 and 10 years after installation but many signs remained longer. A survey of sign inventory found many are far older than the recommended time frame. 342 of the 484 signs installed from 1994 to 2009, are still active today.

Active signs by installation date:

• 1994-2005: 284
• 2006-2015: 366
• 2016-2025: 376

Initially there was no limit on how many times a sign could be renewed, provided new costs were covered. That policy is one of the concepts being evaluated.

Program costs

The cost to create and install the signs is paid by the requesting families. When the program began more than 20 years ago, the costs per sign ranged from $400 for a two-lane highway to $600 for a four-lane highway. Family and friend funding for memorial signs makes the program sustainable and allows WSDOT to appropriately utilize taxpayer money to support this and other projects.

An evaluation of the program in 2024, showed that over the years the fees didn’t keep pace with the costs involved in sign production, installation and maintenance. In the hopes of bringing costs more in line with the amount WSDOT spends, the charge increased to $1,000 to keep pace with rising material and labor costs. Those costs continue to climb and in 2025 the price increased again to $1,500. This amount covers the costs for sign fabrication, installation and maintenance over the life of the sign.

WSDOT would like to establish firm policies and timelines for the program so families can plan how they want to honor loved ones and know what to expect if they decide to remember a loved one through the program. The public is invited to share input on how the program can be improved, how long these signs should sit along roadways and what timelines for the signs and renewals should be considered.

How does it work in other states?

As in Washington, other states allow Roadside Memorial Signs by agreement. Cost and duration vary:

Oregon – 7-10 years (until weathered) $600
Wyoming – 10 years free, $50 if you want to renew
West Virginia – 3 years $200 (with renewal possible)
California – 7 years $1000
Colorado – 2 years $150