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Impaired Driving Victim Memorial Sign


Drinking and driving memorial sign blankUpon the request of the family of a victim of an impaired driving crash and when certain requirements are met, a sign can be installed on the state highway system at the site of a fatality caused by an impaired driver.

Background

Recognizing the potential public awareness impact of such a program, ODOT established its Impaired Driving Victim Memorial Signing Program in 1995.

The first sign was installed in October of that year in Tillamook County.

Guidelines and Application Information

The following guidelines are effective June 2006.

​​Person wishing to sponsor a memorial sign should submit a written request via email to Marie Kennedy or to the following address:

State Traffic Engineer
Oregon Department of Transportation
555 13th St NE
Salem, Oregon 97301
 
The request should include the following information:
  1. Name, address, and telephone number of applicant and relationship to victim
  2. A brief description of the crash
  3. Date and location of the crash
    • This should include the highway name or route number, as well as direction and distance in feet from the nearest green mile point paddle, and distance and direction from any other nearby landmarks (such as an intersecting road, or a bridge over a named stream).
  4. Names of all parties involved in the crash
  5. Proof of conviction (unless driver is deceased) and blood alcohol or drug level of driver (from court, police, or medical examiner's records)
  6. Name or names as they should appear on the sign
  7. Commitment to provide $600 for installation of sign
    • Payment will be requested once a sign is approved.

A sign can be installed at the site of a fatal crash that was caused by a driver who:
  • Has been convicted of negligent homicide or manslaughter in the first or second degree; and
  • Was driving under the influence of intoxicants (blood alcohol level of 0.08 or greater and/or a DUII conviction is required).​
A sign can also be installed at the site of a fatal crash that was caused by a deceased driver who had a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or greater.

Signs installed will be black lettering on white background, with a legend which reads "DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE," below which will be a plaque with the message "IN MEMORY OF (Victim's Name)."

For cases involving controlled substances or inhalants, the legend will read "DON'T USE DRUGS AND DRIVE."

Normally up to three names can be listed, but more than one name will require a larger plaque.

​
Each successful applicant will be entitled to one sign assembly:
  • Mounted to one side of a post (no back-to-back signs are allowed)
  • Facing oncoming traffic
  • On the side of the road nearest the lane of that oncoming traffic
In special situations where a sufficiently large turnout or wayside is available (as determined by ODOT staff), and if acceptable to the applicant, a sign may be mounted parallel to the roadway rather than facing oncoming traffic.



​Signs will be installed on state highways only if the sign location will meet ODOT sign spacing standards listed in its Traffic Sign Design Manual.



​ODOT has no jurisdiction on county roads or city streets. ODOT cannot provide signs along these roadways.

Signs will not be installed on the interstate system or other freeways or associated ramps.​

​The sign must be requested by the family of the victim or other sponsor, and be paid for by either of those parties.

The sponsor need not be a family member, but any proposed installation must include agreement with an appropriate member of the victim's family.

Only one sign will be installed for any given crash. If a given crash resulted in more than one fatality, and those fatalities were from different families, the applicant must contact the families of those other victims before the application is made in order to gain written concurrence on:
  • Whether the sign should even be applied for,
  • Which names should appear on the sign, and
  • How much each family will contribute toward the cost of these sign.

​Victim memorial signs cost $600.

​This fee covers the expenses incurred by ODOT such as: ​
  • Time spent reviewing applications,
  • Investigation of the proposed site,
  • Manufacture of the sign, and
  • Installation of the sign.
Only one check or money order will be accepted as payment for any successful application.

​ODOT regional traffic operations staff will investigate all proposed installation sites and make a recommendation to the state traffic-roadway engineer regarding sign placement.

If the investigation determines that a location other than the one requested is more appropriate, a distance of as much as one half mile away will be acceptable, with variations approved by the state traffic-roadway engineer.

In no case will the alternate location be on a highway other than the one on which the crash occurred.

​The state traffic engineer will approve or deny applications, signing an agreement with the family or sponsor for approved applications. ​

​Signs will remain in place until they are weathered; generally signs have a seven to ten year life.​

If a sign, still  within its serviceable life, is stolen, vandalized, or otherwise badly damaged, it will be replaced one time at ODOT's expense.

When a sign reaches the end of its serviceable life and must be removed, the original applicant may renew the installation with an additional $600 fee.

Contact the Traffic Engineering Section

555 13th Street NE
Salem OR, 97301

Program Contact

Marie Kennedy, PE
State Sign Engineer

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