On University of Dayton Week: Are roadside memorials to lives lost welcome or a nuisance?
Art Jipson, associate professor of sociology and criminology, listens in to find out.
Arthur “Art” Jipson is an associate professor of sociology and criminology at the University of Dayton, where he has taught since 2001. From 2005 to 2016, Jipson was director of UD’s criminal justice studies program. His work has been published in The Conversation, the Journal of Criminal Justice Education, the Journal of the Institute of Justice & International Studies, Research in Political Sociology, The American Sociologist, The Justice Professional, American Journal of Criminal Justice, The International Review of Law, Computers and Technology, and Popular Music and Society. He edited a special issue of Sociological Focus with UD colleague Paul Becker on research on white racial extremism, online extremism, white nationalism and hate crime. His primary research has focused on extremism, radicalization, nationalism, social deviance, Internet culture, and efforts to prevent radicalization through pathways that create a healthy inclusive community. His secondary research has explored roadside memorials and legal regulation of memorials and the popular music industry, popular culture and youth in American society.
The Complex Role of Roadside Memorials
For 25 years, I’ve listened to the stories of grief left on the side of the road. A cross, a bouquet of flowers, a faded photo — roadside memorials at spots where lives were lost too soon.
My project aims to examine and understand how families and communities cope after car accidents; and the economic, social and psychological impacts of accidental deaths.
I’ve interviewed more than 300 people about roadside memorials, built often by females – heartbroken mothers, sisters and wives. They are 70% white, 20% African-American and 10% Hispanic…typically from middle-class families.
They report they do it for many reasons — making sure their loved ones aren’t forgotten, expressing or processing their grief, or serving as a way to access community support.
Eighty percent of the people I’ve spoken with see it as a public duty to act, serving as a cautionary tale or way to prevent future tragedies. As one mother told me, “My grief knows no bounds … It is my hope that his memorial will make the road safer.”
Maintenance of these memorials varies. About half of our respondents reported they maintained their memorials for up to two years; while a quarter do so permanently, often coordinating with family members.
However, the presence of these memorials is not without controversy.
Some argue memorials can be distracting or unsafe themselves. There are ongoing debates about their legality and placement. Local governments and transportation authorities often grapple with balancing public safety and respect for personal grief.
Ultimately, as these memorials continue to dot highways and intersections, these tributes highlight the human experience of love and loss, reminding us of the impact a single life can have on a community.
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