Helping potentially stranded people.

[teach1rusl]

LCLady - I understand how you feel. I always feel torn in those situations, because as others have said, you'd hope someone would stop to help you if you were in that situation. As a woman, I feel pretty comfortable stopping to help another woman who is alone or with young kids, or someone who is obviously elderly, but I don't stop for men. And I don't pick up hitchhikers, although the ones with dogs tempt me...
My mom, my best friend and her 2 yr. old son were driving out to visit me probably 12 years back. Their car broke down on the interstate and it was starting to get dark. Mom had emphysema, and that 2 yr. old was pretty heavy on my friend, but they had to hoof it for several miles to an exit ramp - nobody stopped. The times they are a changin'...

 

[pips&peeps]

Quote:
Don't beat yourself up over this. You can help if you have a cell and call for assistance for the stranded party. Even if they had a cell and already called, your extra call will not have been in vain. You can do this with a 911 call and just say that you are concerned for another person's welfare, it is a courtesy call.

At the risk of being sexist, I would suggest that you ladies not stop for a stranded motorist on the side of the road, especially if you are travelling alone. Call for help, that's what patrolmen are there for.

I'm a fairly big guy and can handle myself pretty well in helping a stranded person, but I still dial 911 and give them a head's up about the situation.

This would be great if you could reach 911. When traveling to Indy in October the tire blew on my trailer and I was in the middle of nowhere in Montana. I tried to call 911 from my cell and it wouldn't go through.

I was lucky that two different older gentlemen stopped to help, both of them at the same time headed in opposite directions. They helped me get the spare on my trailer and routed me into Missoula so I could get the fender fixed and a new spare.

Thanks to people who still stop. I sometimes stop to ask if a stranded motorist needs to use my cell phone to call for help while still in my vehicle. I also ended up paying back the favor while at Indy. One of the breeders from WA State was there and he had the battery die on his rental car. Guess who had a big vehicle and jumper cables......

 

[EweSheep]

Quote:
I know that route LOL! Bring back memories!

Hubby and I always stop together when we pull up somewhere, anywhere, particuarly a lady or an elderly. We would ask if she needs a ride to the nearest gas station or needs assistance.

If it was just me, no I would not stop for anyone except for those I know. Hubby on the other hand, he would use his caution and gut feelings and proceed with care in assisting anyone by himself.

 

[chickened]

I carry a pistol in my vehicles within easy reach so I do not worry about people doing something stupid to me, I will stop if I can but honestly it depends on what the person appears to me as. I followed an old junky truck that went slower and slower and finally stopped in front of me. The girl got out and waved at me. I stopped

She was the local rodeo queen

so I did what any guy would do I said "jump in" took her to get gas and brought her back to her truck, that was all

. Another time I was real young and I picked up a girl that was broke down we went about a 1/2 mile and she said stop that is my boyfriend... I went about a 1/4 mile further and made her get out, and told her that that was dishonest what she was doing.

You never know about people but you can use common sense (If you have any).

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I dont tell everyone to but I stop when someone is broke down in my county or a county I am in alot an know well.

I stop for wrecks everywhere I am. Its the law that I do. I always carry a gun, usually 2 concealed revolvers. One of these is not a bad idea ether.
http://thevideocopilot.com/Order_VC-250.php

 

[OwlLover]

Well, I wouldn't mind giving someone a water bottle or something if I'm going with another family member or two. But NO free rides or anything like that. Yes, helping someone is good, but is it really worth potientially your life? No its not. And I wouldn't even want someone giving me a free ride; how are you supposed to know if they're going to take you where you want them to take you?

 

[Royd]

Why is it, when I stop to help, they are the ones with the worried look on their face?

 

[teach1rusl]

Quote:

Yeah, actually that went through my head too (not you specifically Royd...lol).
But now days it's even scary accepting help from strangers, especially if you're a woman and a man stops to help you when it's really early or late, or you're in an isolated area. And often (sadly), we do judge by looks. So if the man isn't clean cut looking (ie looks "safer") we worry more. Of course the clean cut guys generally don't change their own tires or know a carburetor from their butt (just generalizing - no offense to any clean cut mechanically inclined out there).

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
I'd want some one to help me by calling the police. Believe me the person who stops could be just a crazy as the person sitting on the side of the road. If it makes you feel better call the police. Oh and by the way, Cell phones are a necessity. They have pay as you go plans that are affordable.

I got lost on the thruway not knowing which exit to get off. I drove for two hours. Pay phones are practically non existent. Get a cell phone. Even a new car can break down.

I wish you well,

Rancher

 

[desertdarlene]

I generally don't if I'm alone.

There was one time when I stopped to get gas way out in the middle of nowhere on the Navajo reservation. This woman gave me a long sob story about how she needed a ride and some other stuff. Mind you, this is was the only structure within miles and the only gas station for probably a hundred. And, there is definitely no public transit and no taxi service, so the only way one could get anywhere far in a timely manner was by car or by hitchhiking. I wasn't going her direction, though, but I'm glad I didn't give her a ride. I heard, later, from a friend of mine that there was a woman at that gas station asking outsiders for rides and then leading them into a dangerous place and robbing them or something like that. My friend didn't want to say too much about it. I don't know if that was her or not, but you can't be too sure.