News Release

Bemidji, MN. -- The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) formally established guidelines this summer pertaining to the placement of memorial markers on state highways. Memorial markers are items and displays of various sizes and construction that are placed at or near the site of a fatal crash.

Understanding that fatal crashes are a traumatic event for the surviving families and friends, most memorials have been left in place unless it was determined that the memorial could be a distraction to the safety of the traveling public and to the people who are placing them along the roadside.

Since 1997, Minnesota has experienced an average of 626 traffic deaths per year and as a result, Mn/DOT is seeing more memorials of various sizes and materials being placed along state highways. This has raised concern that one tragedy could lead to another when the items being placed distract drivers.

These are the guidelines established on June 9, 2004:

These guidelines were established to insure that state roadways remain as safe as possible and to provide consistency in managing memorials.

In the Northwest District, Mn/DOT maintenance crews are recording locations of current roadside memorials for removal next spring.

For more information on the memorial marker policy, individuals can contact Karen Bedeau, N.W. District Public Affairs Coordinator at 218-755-4086 or e-mail to Karen.bedeau@dot.state.mn.us.

For road condition and construction information dial 511 or log unto www.511mn.org.