Roadside Shrines - Should They Be Allowed?

Some safety campaigners want them removed

Every year over 3,400 people are killed on the UK's roads. That's an average of almost 10 per day

Understandably the relatives of the victims regularly create roadside shrines in memory of their loved ones

Some of these shrines are tended to and added to for months or years afterwar the fatal collision

One little boy in Newcastle had a roadside shrine created in his honour, and the shrine was attended to for the 2 years following his tragic death

"It was nice to know that people were thinking of us. It was nice to know that he was a popular little boy

"It was nice that people were remembering him this way - and that other drivers know an accident's happened

If people took notice of the speed and the way they were driving, they'd be no need need for these shrines"

But do these roadside shrines make drivers safer on the roads, or do they just create another distraction that could cause another death nearby?

Recent polls have shown that many drivers do slow down . . . but is this always for the right reason?

"I only slow down because I can't see exactly what's going on. I never really slow down because I think the area is dangerous" said one driver near to a roadside shrine in Sheffield

Here are just some of the facts about traffic collisions:

• Every year over 3,400 people are killed on our roads
• In 2003 there were 171 children killed on the UK roads
• We have a 1 in 200 chance of dying on the roads
• We are more likely to be killed while crossing a road than in a plane crash
• Half the people who die on the road are in cars
• Men are three times more likely to be killed on the roads than women

Source: BRAKE

One Local Authority in the North of England is considering allowing permanent memorials at the roadside to allow families to remember their loved ones

Not everyone agrees that this is a good idea, not even some of the families of the victims

One mother said " I don't think that this would be a good idea. The site would be open to vandalism and I don't believe that it slows drivers down anyway"

So, what do you think?

Do you think that these roadside shrines should be allowed? or do you think that they should be made a permanant roadside feature? Or you may think that they should never be there in the first place?

Let us know your comments using the form below, and if you want to please feel free to take part in our on-line poll