Adorned with flowers, toys, names and sometimes dates, they are the tragic reminder of the nation's road toll.
Memorials to those who have died near or on highways, country roads or suburbans streets can be found everywhere and while they are respected in Queensland, they must adhere to three rules.
A Transport and Main Roads spokesperson said while the department's policy on roadside memorials was under review, they were still allowed provided they were "not distracting" and did not pose a safety hazard to road users.
"These standards are designed to minimise safety risks for both memorial visitors and road users," the spokesperson said.
The installation of roadside memorials must not create a safety risk for road users; must not contain materials that pollute or damage the environment; and must consider the local community, such as residents in nearby houses.
"A permit is not necessary to install a roadside memorial that complies with these requirements, however you do need to submit a notification form," the TMR spokesperson said.
"Memorials may be in place indefinitely, provided they are regularly maintained by family and friends and do not become a road safety hazard."
Family of highway shrine located
This week, TMR put out a call to find the relatives of a person named Richard, whose memorial was in the centre median of the Bruce Highway between Six Mile Creek and Beerburrum Creek in Elimbah, north of Brisbane.
The white steel marker also had 21 | 08 | 01 inscribed on it.
"We need to move and store the memorial so it doesn't get damaged while work is undertaken to upgrade the highway in this area," a post on TMR's Facebook page read.
"It will be well cared for — but we want to make sure the people who placed the memorial are aware of what's going on."
A few hours after the post, the owner of the roadside memorial made contact with TMR.
A spokesperson for the department said when roadworks occurred, staff "safely and carefully relocate the memorial to conduct the works and then return it to its original position if possible".
"If a memorial blocks roadworks, becomes a road safety hazard or affects the community and local residents, we may ask the responsible person to remove, relocate or modify the memorial," the spokesperson said.
Richard's Elimbah memorial was moved to allow works to widen an 11-kilometre stretch of the Bruce Highway from four to six lanes between Caboolture-Bribie Island Road and Steve Irwin Way (Exit 163).
