about 30 years ago when my dad first learned to drive, he was driving back home from a party through a dirt road. He saw about 30 yards ahead somebody ran out from the bushes and stod in the middle of the road with his thumb up. Because it was years ago he picked the guy up. It was then that he found out that the guy had been driving a little bit futher ahead when he picked up a hitch hiker who held a knife to him and forced him to get out of the car.

they were driving to the police station still on the same road when they found the hitchhikers car parked in a little space on the side of the road. The hitchhiker was just at the side of the car when my dad saw and arm holding a knife swipe for him. Luckily, my dad had left the ignition on and when the hitchiker got back in they drove off the road to a nearby farmhouse and phoned the police from there. I only found out a few weeks ago.

With all these horror stories no wonder no one picks me up hitching anymore :D

All you need is some Bud Light...

There was a time i wouldn't hesitate on helping somebody stranded on the
side of the road,,whether be a hitch hiker or some poor dudes car broken down..
now..i wouldn't think 2wice about stopping...
but on the flip side of the coin..hitc hikers have to be careful too..
NZ is getting pretty good with drivers waiting for the hitch hikers to laod thier back packs into thier boots then driving off...or doing some crazy shit like that.

life in england has been getting worse and worse by the year. There was a time when I was still too young to reach th counter in the supermarket but still wasnt scared to go out when it was dark on my own just playing on the big patch of grass by my house. Now i'd be lucky if i wasnt followed by some guy.

I wonder how much of the attitude towards the (legitimately) unknown people that we come across is caused by the media...
I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but wouldn't pick up a hitcher simply because if a situation WERE to occur, you don't want the person to be at close proximity to you, in a moving vehicle.
But no, I don't strive to "avoid" people...what's the point? Enough folks do that to me to keep me happy.