Well I grew up in the deeper South (As in South America) and in the city
I'm from, a creative mayor used a similar strategy to encourage pedestrians to use overpass bridges.
For every person who died as a result of a being hit by a car, a small
star would be engraved in the pavement. The rate of these accidents
decreased dramatically.

Jorge

'85 Wolfsburg Weekender.

On Tue, 20 Jul 2004, John Rodgers wrote:

> Growing up in the Deep South, in Alabama and North Florida, I used to
> see these white crosses all the time. Just plain white crosses, about
> three feet tall. No decorations, no words, just the crosses. I was gone
> from Alabama for 30 years essentially, and now that I am back, I note
> that the larger white crosses - which way back were uniform in size and
> color no matter where you were - are no longer there, and in their place
> are small crosses of different colors, often decorated and draped with
> garlands of flowers. And whereas the white crosses were simply stuck in
> the ground and left, current practice seems to be to clear the round
> around the crosses and place memorial items there as well. I suspect -
> mainly because of the uniformity of the crosses all over the state -
> that in the old days the crosses were placed by the state, but as times
> changed, everyone including government agencies, got caught up in
> political and religious "correctness" the state stopped doing that, and
> that private groups now carry the tradition forward.
>
> I appreciate the practice myself.
>
> Regards,
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL driver
>
> McNearney, Clayton wrote:
>
> >Since many list members travel extensively I thought that this request
> >was appropriate.  I am involved in a research project on roadside
> >memorials, i.e., the white crosses and other items placed at the site of
> >a fatal accident.  I would appreciate your comments and reflections on
> >these.  Are they found in some states more than others? Do you notice
> >them?  How old is this custom? If you have comments on these and similar
> >questions please send them to me off list.  I would very much like your
> >help in identifying and contacting people who have themselves
> >participated in the construction of such memorials or who have friends
> >or family so memorialized.  My contact information is:  Clayton L.
> >McNearney, Department of Religious Studies, Marshall University,
> >Huntington, West Virginia.  mcnearne@marshall.edu, Phone is (304)696
> >4641   Thanks.
> >
> >
> >
>