Get a roadside memorial sign

Since 1994, WSDOT has developed a State Roadside Memorial Program to honor individuals who have lost their lives on Washington State Highways. It has since expanded to address several types of fatal incidents such as distracted driving, reckless driving, and collisions involving motorcycles, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

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NOTE: As of January 1, 2024, memorial signs and plaques will use white text on a blue background.  

Existing signs will remain black text on a white background until sign replacement is necessary.

Guidelines and Application Information

Detailed information about the program can be found in our guidelines:

Criteria and Guidelines for Roadside Memorials (PDF 1.6MB)

Signs are installed in memory of an individual who lost their life in a collision on a state highway. The sign includes an important safety message and a plaque with the deceased individual's name or the name of the sponsoring family. Standard safety messages include:

• Please Don't Drink and Drive
• Please Don't Drug and Drive
• Please Don't Speed
• Please Drive Sober
• Please Drive Safely
• Please Ride Safely
• Please Watch for Bicyclists
• Please Watch for Motorcycles
• Please Watch for Pedestrians
• Reckless Driving Costs Lives
• Seat Belts Save Lives
• Stay Alert Drive Safe

Memorial signs may only be requested by an immediate family member of the deceased, or by a sponsor with written permission from an immediate family member. Applications must be submitted no more than six (6) years from the date of the collision.

Applicants may request a Memorial Sign by first filling out the Roadside Memorial Application Form online or by downloading and submitting the PDF form through email to RoadsideMemorial@wsdot.wa.gov. 

• Roadside Memorial Application online form
• Roadside Memorial Application (PDF 117KB)

We will review the details of the application and, if approved, respond with an agreement letter to be signed by the applicant. This letter is the formal agreement between the requestor and WSDOT for all future interactions regarding the Memorial Sign. 

Cost for Signs

Fees associated with the Roadside Memorial Sign is $1,500 per location. Applicants will be required to pay for the cost of the sign including manufacture, installation, and removal by a WSDOT crew.  Currently, WSDOT only accepts checks or money orders.

Sign Installation 

When the signed agreement letter and payment have been received, the applicant will be provided a copy of the agreement letter, a receipt, and notification that the sign order has been placed. Sign fabrication and installation typically takes from 90 to 120 days from the date the order is placed. 

Signs will be placed as close to the collision site as possible, in the direction of travel that the collision occurred. Locations may be adjusted to address conflicts with existing signing or specific roadway configurations. For freeways, the memorial signs will be installed along the on-ramp closest to, and in the same direction of travel as, the collision. Signing cannot be installed on freeway mainlines. 

Some locations may not be suitable for a memorial sign. Generally, this is due to safety concerns for our sign crews or the traveling public, but there may also be city or county ordinances that superseded WSDOT policy in the specific location. Every effort will be made to find a suitable location, but there may be cases where it is simply not possible. 

Duration

Memorial signs will remain in place for six (6) years. Following the six-year period, the sign will be taken down and placed in the nearest maintenance facility for 30 days for the applicant to collect them. 

Private Memorials

Due to safety concerns, private memorials are not allowed on any State Highway. All private memorials, whether placed alone or in addition to the official Memorial Sign will be removed without notice. The contents of private memorials will be removed with care and stored for thirty (30) days at the nearest maintenance facility where they can be retrieved. 

County or City Roadways

Our jurisdiction does not include county roads or city streets, and we cannot provide signs along those roadway systems. However, some local agencies have adopted similar memorial sign programs, and we ask that you contact the appropriate agency for the road or street of interest for additional information.