OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is asking residents to share their thoughts on the future of its Roadside Memorial Program, which has honored victims of traffic collisions for more than three decades.
Launched in 1994 to recognize victims of DUI crashes, the program has since expanded to include safety messages addressing speeding, distracted driving, and motorcycle safety. Today, more than 1,000 memorial signs are displayed along highways across the state.
WSDOT officials are reviewing the program to address sign overcrowding in some urban areas. Among the proposals under consideration are placing time limits on how long signs remain posted or restricting the number of renewals a sign can receive.
Public feedback is being collected through an online open house from Aug. 8 to Sept. 1, 2025, at engage.wsdot.wa.gov/roadside-memorial-program. Participants can fill out a survey and submit comments.
The agency plans to conclude its evaluation by fall and finalize any new policies this winter. Free, temporary internet access is available at statewide Drive-In WiFi Hotspots for those without broadband service.
More information on the Roadside Memorial Program is available on WSDOT’s website.