It's 2012, is Hitchhiking really that dangerous?

[mplo]

Originally Posted by irelandsgem

I'm wondering if any women out there have experiance hitching rides. I don't like to limit myself just because of my gender. I would love to travel this way for a bit save some gas money, and have a different type of travel experiance.

Not withstanding that one could get stuck out on the road for hours at a time, and in extreme heat or cold, or, depending on the area, be arrested, fined, or possibly jailed for a bit (hitchhiking is illegal in a lot of places.), one never knows who s/he will get picked up by. While most people are perfectly normal and honest, the risk of getting picked up by somebody who's not so normal and/or honest are still there. I'll also add that if things go wrong, you're trapped, with little, if any options for fleeing, calling for help, and/or physically defending oneself if the need should arise, when the situation turns nasty or violent. Plus, there are too many people who drive dangerously or carelessly, who are drunk or drugged-out, or have bad intentions out there.

[mplo]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

The last time I hitchhiked was a couple of decades back when I went from Tucson to San Diego getting several rides along the way. Upon arrival, I found a cheap hotel room and turned on the TV while getting settled. The local news was on and the lead story was of a female hitchhiker who had had both arms cut off by a driver who picked her up. I returned to Tucson by Greyhound.

If a friend asked me for advice, I would ask them why they would take such a risk and endure such inconvience when there are so many safe, comfortable, affordable and reliable ways to travel? You may feel the reasoning behind your consideration of hitchhiking is irrelevant. I feel it is at the heart of the matter.

You made a smart move in the end, Pine to Vine. Way to go.

[mplo]

Originally Posted by wawa1992

Crime rates have fallen dramatically. I'd gladly pick up hitchhikers in an area that wasn't high crime. I see no logical reason not to. A lot of people have been taught "stranger danger", just another moral panic. Crime's as low as it was in the 1950s, so why not pick up hitchhikers like it was the 1950s again. Heck, I wouldn't remind a return to most of the '50s morals.

I've hitchhiked at college in 2012, and I've NEVER run into any problems.

You're just plain lucky, that's all. Moreover, most of the nasty incidents that do occur while hitchhiking don't even make the papers, or the evening news.

[HumpDay]

If I was in the situation that I would need to hitchhike, I would try as hard as I can to avoid contact with anyone. Too many unstable people out there. Instead of flagging down random cars, I would try train hopping.