Picking up a hopeful hitchhiker on the side of the road seems very 1970’s somehow, and today, with constant news headlines about abductions and Hollywood horror films about friendly strangers turning nasty – it comes as no surprise that less than one quarter of Brits would consider stopping to offer a lift…
The National Automobile Association (AA) surveyed 15,000 motorists and found that a tiny proportion of people in the UK would stop to offer a hitchhiker a seat in their vehicle.
Unsurprisingly, men were slightly more likely to pick a hitchhiker up, with 23 per cent saying they would consider it, compared to just seven per cent of women.
With barrages of press about public safety and advice against going off with strangers drummed into us from early childhood – that Stranger Danger picture book still sends a shiver down my spine – why on earth would we take the risk?
Well, in many cases, the hitchhikers are students or backpackers looking for transport on a tiny budget (ie.none). The vast majority of these hitchhikers and others standing at the side of the road with the thumb out, are perfectly nice, normal people. But the fear of picking up that one weirdo is enough to cancel out any thoughts we might have about stopping. After all, once they are in your car, you can’t walk away. You are, in effect, trapped.
The likelihood of a driver offering a seat in his car increased with age. Only nine per cent of 18 to 24 year-olds said that they would stop for a hitchhiker, compared to 11 per cent of 25 to 35 year-olds and 21 per cent of 45 to 65 year-olds.
Figures also differed regionally – so all you credit crunched travellers should head to Scotland or southwest England – as that is where you stand the best chance of getting a free lift.
The region you stand the least chance of being picked up is in the northwest and northeast.
AA President Edmund King said, “It is no great surprise that with concerns about personal safety drummed into us, most people are reluctant to stop for hitchhikers.”
“But I am pleased that there is still a core of trusty drivers who say they would pick up a hitchhiker, perhaps to re-live the good old days,” added Mr King.
If you are wary about picking up a hitchhiker but like the concept behind it, why not get involved with the new trend of internet organised car pools. Borrowed from our American cousins, the car pool, or lift share, is kind to the environment and your pocket.
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