Road concerns

[Nomad101]

Hi all,

If you could, what are some of the most dangerous situations/rides you have come across over the years? I am new to hitchhiking and I believe all people are genuinely good-willed but I would like your thoughts as well. Thank you in advance.

Happy travels,

Nomad101

[prino]

Drunk drivers and those who've been driving too long without sleep. Met both types and in 1987, while I was dozing off after a night of hitchhiking, a driver did the same and the car crashed pretty badly.

[johandenmark]

I´m convinced that the gravest danger for any hitchhiker is being hit by a car or crashing while in a car

[dmac]

if someone is drunk or drinking while i am riding with them, i do my best to keep them alert, or i offer to drive, and last result i ask to be let out.

[djikajin]

... or i offer to drive ...

Did somebody ever agree to that?

[Lightfoot]

I've had probably 5 times where the ride let me drive. Those have to be the most stellar rides from a hitcher's viewpoint. The best one was an old guy trying to kick heroin in the back seat who was going through the sweats. He let me drive his Caddy from Holbrook, AZ to Chicago in March 1977.

[dmac]

i have drove 4 times while hitching. usually cuz the driver was tired/drinking. never got to drive a caddy, but i did drive a RV for a couple hundred miles.

[WildWill]

Only two dodgey experiences come to mind. One was in Montenegro - a car stopped and said "Taxi?". I told him I was autostopping. "Ok, free, free". Well Ok then, so I jumped in and as we started off down the road he started talking prices. I wanted to get 200km and if he was going that way I was prepared to give him perhaps 10 euros, just cos it was an awkward journey into Albania. After a little while I realised this wasn't going anywhere, I told him I wasn't paying him what he wanted (like 50 euros) so he pulled over under a bridge and turned off the engine. He could hardly speak any English, but he demanded 5 euros for the 3km we had just covered. No way bro, and I could feel the tension rising, so I got out of the car and retrieved my pack from the back seat before he could start the engine and take off with it. He got out of the car and demanded his money. Then he grabbed hold of my pack... That's crossing the line. I put my hand firmly on his shoulder, pushing down slightly, and I got in his personal zone. I told him to let go of my bag and leave; he couldn't understand my words, but he got the message. He got in his car and drove off. He was short but stocky, and could have taken me. It helps being 6 foot 5...
From this I learnt it was important to take dominance of a bad situation; when they cross the line its time to take control, make them realise you're not such an easy target and make them think twice - Turn the table on them, you are now the threat to them, rather than visa versa. Obviously this would be the wrong thing to do in certain situations; you have to follow your instinct.

I used this same lesson on a coach ride into Istanbul. I had been picked up in Greece by a Georgian coach that I noticed was heading to Istanbul, I asked the driver and he was Ok with me hitching a ride. The problem was, another coach was in convoy, and there were less savoury characters onboard that one. Namely two big, rough Georgian men, who weren't impressed by my presence. At one point all the cargo and passengers were loaded onto one coach. As we entered the outskirts of Istanbul, the two men came to the back of the coach as I was getting my stuff together, and demanded $50 for the trip. In Greece I had been living out of dumpsters, I had run dry. Luckily, at the Turkey border money had finally been paid into my account (hence I could pay for the visa) and I had about 100 euros in my wallet. Oops. Well I played the "no money" ploy, showing them the last 2 euros I had in my pocket, telling them they could take it but I wouldn't be able to eat. I pointed towards a crate of bin-food I had with me, showing them I was eating from the bins. Luckily they didn't check the bag on top, which had my laptop in it. They disappeared to the front of the bus for a few minutes and I quickly put the money from my wallet into my pocket. They came back and I showed them my empty wallet. At this point one of the men took hold of my bag and demanded the $50. Here we go again. You've crossed the line. I got into his personal zone, and told him bluntly "Don't touch me. Don't touch my bag". Those were the rules he had to abide by if he wanted me to stay civilised. I didn't stand a chance against these two big Eastern Europeans, but you've got to play the mind game. Show confidence and dominance. Don't be aggressive, that's asking for trouble, just make them think twice. Until that point I had been submissive, pleading that I had no money. Then the game changes, and when you change they are taken aback. Amazingly, they backed off and kicked me off as we slowed for a toll station. Good ridence. I went straight to a police station to ask for directions and my mood was immediately lifted by the friendliness and helpfulness everyone showed me. When I showed them the line I had drawn on my map, from England all the way to their city, they became very excited and drove me to the bus station, and allocated a waiting passenger to be my guide. I made some Malaysian friends on the bus who invited me to Malaysia, a Polish friend on the street who offered me the spare bed in her hotel room (innocently) which I accepted, and some Turkish friends who shared their shisha under the Blue Mosque and taught me a board game. I returned to chill with them every night following. Everything works out...

Come to think of it, the WORST situation, that left me feeling empty, was getting involved with a drug dealer. That is a situation where you have no power. Life is an awesome drug. Wait until you're bored at home to take drugs. Getting involved in that sh*t abroad is totally not worth it.