New restrictions planned for roadside memorials

Roadside memorials in Victoria will not be permitted on freeways, power poles, close to homes, will have height restrictions and photos of those killed in crashes will also be banned as part of a policy overhaul.

Grieving families could also be asked to move the roadside memorial to another "long-term" location after 13 months such as "an alternative place of significance for the family".

VicRoads has released its proposed policy for roadside memorials but will await feedback before rubber stamping it.

The tough new guidelines include:

MEMORIALS should be 'discreet" and not be more than 60cm in height and 40cm wide, and should not be located close to homes;

PHOTOS will not be permitted because they may be "distressing" to the community;

A BAN on memorials being placed on guideposts, light poles, barriers, road signs, roundabouts and traffic islands and on urban or rural freeway reservations;

CROSSES need to be timber, white or neutral in colour;

OFFENSIVE symbols, weapons, beer cans, alcohol and other "objects which may offend" are not permitted;

IN some cases traffic management may be required and will come at a cost to the memorial owner;

WHEN there is a dispute about a memorial the family and affected party would be required to pay for mediation costs;

OWNERS of memorials should leave contact details on site such as an email address or PO box number;

PLAQUES cannot be attached to road infrastructure;

VicRoads undertook the policy review, the first in 15 years, to improve roadside safety and to manage the conflicting emotions between grieving families and others affected by driving past the crash scene.

Memorials distracted drivers and caused additional stress to other motorists

The roads body has previously said roadside memorials were a sensitive topic and it did not want cause more distress to families, but some memorials distracted drivers and caused additional stress to other motorists.

A VicRoads survey showed 63 per cent of people supported roadside memorials, 54 per cent found them distracting, 61 per cent believed they encouraged safer driving and 76 per cent believed VicRoads should be told when a memorial would be erected.