The taboo of sudden death, whether by extremists or a drink driver, is a quandary that few know how to deal with. When passing-by in your vehicle, consider for whom and why bunches of flowers are tied to trees, posts, verges and pavements.

The taboo of tragic death, whether at the hands of extremists or a drink driver, is a quandary that few of us in this country know how to deal with. In the case of road deaths, relatives are invited to lay floral tributes. Local councilors however, have other views as to what is honourable to our loved-ones, and what is acceptable from the position of driving safety.

Lynn Mitchell, whose two-year-old daughter Lesley died in a road accident, regularly attaches flowers to a fence near the spot of the tragedy. "Sometimes it can be upsetting but sometimes you can get a sense of satisfaction out of it, that you getting close and doing what is right," she says. "The fence is Lesley's fence. We call it Lesley's fence. That is our place to go up and pay our respects to her."

To Richard Wills, Director of Highways with Lincolnshire County Council, garish garlands of flowers alongside his byways simply put other drivers off their driving. His leaflets to recently-bereaved families are meant to deter the laying of these shrines. Simon Collister, of the Brake Safety Campaign meanwhile says that, "they remind drivers that the consequences of driving dangerously can be fatal."

Spare a thought for them. As you sweep past in your vehicle consider for whom and why bunches of flowers are tied to railings, to bridges, to trees, posts, verges and pavements. It's something I decided to stop and learn about a few years ago and this work is the resulting discovery to the extent that roadside memorials have become my ghoulish pastime.

I have on occasions witnessed accidents then photographed the subsequent offerings. Successive coincidences unnerved me.
(More text available on request).