Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In
Safety

The (Too-Brief) History of Traffic Violence Memorials in America

Mass memorials to the victims of traffic violence are a rarity on American roads. But it wasn't always that way — and there's a fascinating history behind why so many lost lives have become virtually invisible in the public realm today.

On this episode of The Brake, Kea Wilson sits down with historian and author Peter Norton to talk about how America used to memorialize car crash deaths in the early days of the automobile, and why automakers invested so much into reshaping the way we grieve. And then they chat about what it might take to bring the national traffic violence epidemic out of the shadows, and why even everyday non-lethal road trauma deserves to be called out.

Listen in below, on Apple podcasts, or anywhere else you listen.

No time to listen — or want to dig a little deeper? Check out our earlier coverage on this topic:

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

Monday’s Headlines

The Bee gets it.

March 16, 2026

What If The Rising Costs of Car Dependency Were As Visible As Gas Prices?

Gas station billboards remind U.S. residents every day that driving is getting more expensive. What if they told a different message about the high costs of our autocentric transportation system?

March 16, 2026

The Smog President Takes California to Court

I'm not even sure which Trump-made disaster he's trying to distract people from with this latest stunt.

March 13, 2026

The Short Week in Short Videos

Diverters, e-bikes, and a cameo appearance for Joe's kitchen.

March 13, 2026
See all posts