Yeah, more signs
New Program Allows State Signs for Victims of DUI | WOAI.COM: San Antonio News
A new state program will allow friends and family of deceased victims of drunken driving accidents in Texas to purchase memorial signs that will be placed near the crash site for a year.
The signs will have the victim’s name, date of the crash and the phrases “Please Don’t Drink and Drive” and “In Memory of.”
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, Texas had more than 1,670 fatalities in 2006 that involved drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
I understood why MADD started placing small crosses where DUI fatalities occurred and because these are for the same purpose they make a bit of sense too. What doesn’t make sense to me are those roadside memorials that seem to stay up for forever and have nothing to do with reminding people that drinking and driving causes death. There are no fewer than 8 on a street rather close to me. There is nothing tasteful about the tattered and weather faded stuffed animals, t-shirts and artificial flowers. I remember the news stories about the accidents that caused four of the fatalities and they had nothing to do with drinking and driving. They were all drag racing fatalities and I am not entirely sure how long they will stay up since it has been several years already for some of them. I know I am choosing a non-popular view and I am far from heartless but aren’t gravesites where these type memorials should be and why day after day do I have to be reminded of someone’s stupidity. I am sorry that teenagers died before their lives began and I am absolutely sure they are missed but is a tacky roadside memorial really the best way to remember them. About ten years ago a friend of mine lost his life in a carjacking here in san antonio and I still run out to his grave and leave flowers from time to time. I know where he was killed as does his family but there was never a thought of placing one of these roadside memorials. For years I have been telling myself this is a southern thing and maybe it is just something I will never understand but to date I have had no one who could give me a plausible reason these eye sores are good or proper.
Technorati Tags: MADD, roadside memorial
Filed under: wreckless driving
