Every month Elizabeth Knight and her family visit the memorial of her father.
They drive past it at least once a week. It's the intersection where her father was killed in a traffic accident two years ago.
However, the Knights may have to take it down soon as the Tennessee Department of Transportation says that the memorial "poses a potential hazard to other motorists and the family and friends who stop and maintain the memorials."
A news report from TDOT said there has been an increase in crosses and decorations for loved ones killed in car accidents.
"It's not fair, I want my dad to be remembered," Knight said, who attends school in Knoxville, the site of her father's death. "When I drive past that area I always think about him and I don't want to have to remove my memories."
TDOT has recommended that Tennessee should follow in the footsteps of many other states and create memorials at rest areas and other places. At these locations the families can place engraved bricks or plant flowers and trees in honor of their loved ones.
"It's a tough situation to put the families in. We don't want anyone's feelings to be hurt, but we want to make the roads a little safer for Tennesseans," said Leslie Brown, a TDOT employee.
No legislation approval is needed for the agency to enforce their plans.
And, Senate committee chairman Mark Norris said he believes this is a great plan and the state should adopt it.
"It's a significant safety issue and there are related maintenance and upkeep issues," Norris said. "But it's safety first, and to have the bereaved standing along the interstate is too dangerous."
Meanwhile, Knight wonders if Norris and others are overstating the risk.
"I would like to know if there have been any accidents directly related to people visiting roadside memorials," Knight said.
She won't find an answer from TDOT officials. They could not give statistics of accidents caused by memorials.
"I don't think that officials should take the memorials away from the families," said Brian Jones, sophomore at The University of Memphis. "If they were moved to a rest area it would have no significance to the family."
As of now the agency sees no reason to stop the enforcement of this new plan.
"I think if anyone from TDOT had lost a family member in the same way they would not allow this plan to go through," Knight said.
