Would You Have Picked Him Up?

No, I would not offer a ride. Ever. I would call for help, if they needed help. Or, I would tell them I'll get the gas, drive to the gas station, and bring it back for them. If it were a woman and child, I would pull over and call the non-emergency line and request police assistance for her, and probably wait until they got there. Or, just go and get whatever they need. No stranger is entering my car, I'm not entering a stranger's car.

Been there, done that. The rule we have is, If it is two adults in the car, we will offer a ride. If there kids in the car, we will offer help (change tire, call someone to help, etc) but no ride. If there is only one adult, keep going unless it is an emergency.

I try to make a habit out of stopping to help people. That being said, I almost always have my kids with me so help is usually running to get gas for them, letting them use my cell phone, giving them a jump, or giving them some bottles of water if they are waiting for someone. In my younger D. I accepted rides from people if it was needed but thankfully I haven't been in that position in a while. I agree with many of the other responders; it truly depends on the situation and what I am feel led to do.

I do this.

On rainy days I will pick moms and their kiddos who are walking home in it.

I take my kiddo to another school in our district every morning and Drive by the school that is two blocks away from us.

There are apartments not to far from there. but I refuse to just drive by people that are walking in the pouring rain.

I was given the nice fact I get to own a car. Because alot of people dont. So the only right thing to do is use it for good.

I have never had some one turn me down. and I have gotten the chance to meet alot of wonderful people because of this.

I think it is awesome that someone went out of there way for you guys.

And Paying it forward whenever you can it the best gift you could give to the gentlemen in return.

If my end is to come by giving some one..the wrong someone a ride then so be it. At least I went doing what I believe is right.

In our area, home of the Green River Killer and several other lesser known serial killers it's drilled into us that certain predators put themselves in miserable positions in order to gain sympathy, and that you'll never meet a sociopath that you don't like.

That said, before kids, I've given rides from time to time (once to one of the most amazing ladies I've ever met). On military bases, without a second thought. In warzones and 3rd world areas, almost the same.

In farm country, I can't tell you how many times nice young men have helped ME out (young men -highschool kids by and large- in farm country, and *old* men in cities are my two major sources of 'help' when I'm traveling. And by old, I'm talking 70's and 80's, who are always thrilled -in my experience- to help a young woman or young mother with anything they might need. Directions, a place to sit down and talk for awhile, recommendations about places to eat or stay, etc. Old men are absolute treasures. And they love to flirt. Different era.).

Before kids... so often have I helped others out. Post kids... not so much. Sometimes, in VERY limited situations (like a school parking lot when a mom's car isn't starting, or neighbors). Usually people I don't know, but know OF (have seen around).

I do not stop for men. Sorry fellas. I have stopped for a woman with children before. I was with my husband and my own son and she was on the side of the freeway in the rain walking with her baby (I think he was about 18 months). We stopped and I got out so that she wouldn't freak out about a man driving. We put the carseat in my car and we drove her to her apartment which was about 10 miles away. She was so grateful!!
I remember my tire blowing out on the freeway as I was heading to the airport. Again, in the pouring rain and me walking on the freeway. After who knows how many cars passed me by, and me in tears, a nice girl stopped and drove me to the airport sopping wet.
My mom had something happen to her on the freeway and she had 3 of my brothers with her. She was walking and an older couple stopped for her and drove her all the way home as well.
I know women can be psycho killers just as well as men, but I am hoping they wont do it if they have their kids with them.
L.

Hmm, You have a gas can so you could roll down your window enough to tell them you'll go get the gas and meet them back at the car. That way you are helping but not at as much risk....I had a Sunday school teacher who always picked up hitchhikers 'til one day his intuition told him something was up. Out of the corner of his eye he saw two men hiding, the hitchhiker was a young woman. He figured he would have been robbed, beaten or worse. He still picked up hitchhikers but was aware of the risk and tried to be cautious. This was the mid 70s as things started to change.....

The funniest time I've been helped was a really hot day on I5 between Corning and Sacramento (100 degrees easy). I got a flat tire and had started pulling stuff out of the trunk to change it myself. Two guys in a truck stopped, pretty much didn't say a word and changed the tire for me. They were fast, barely got to Thank them before they were back in the truck and off. Made my day, it was very surreal movie like except they didn't wear capes or a costume ;-)

Typically I pull over and ask if they need help. I have a really good flashlight that is easily accessible to me should the person be "bad"...I've not encountered one yet.

So. Yes. I probably would've pulled over and picked him up.

If a stranger offered me a ride, I might. I go with my gut on that...to be honest, I've never hitchhiked and i've never been in the spot to need something like this...only exception is when we were riding our trikes on dunes in Southern California and I got turned around and away from my "pack"...people out in the dunes help each other...

No, I would not stop, and I would not get in a car with a stranger.

The last time I offered a young man on the side of the road a ride, it was during a blizzard. His car had gotten stuck or broken down in the snow. I gave him a ride to the next exit so he could walk to a gas station for help. He cleared my windshield for me. I would do that again.

I have been helped by strangers in the winter on the roads here in Minnesota several times. The weather is not anything to mess with here, even within city limits.

In typical circumstances, though, I would offer to call for help, rather than let someone in my car if I were alone or with my daughter.

I will pick up my elderly neighbor, but he's 89 and is on his own. He walks to the bus stop, shopping and then home so if it's really hot, raining, very very cold and icy, I always ask him if he wants a ride and usually he accepts. I just don't like the way my car smells of cigarette smoke every time he gets out :( but he's a great neighbor and I hope to live as long as he has.

No, just not worth the risk...I would maybe call the police to come and help them.

No way. Its not that all ppl are bad or that you cant allow someone to help you in need but in todays society you just dont know
There are ways to help a complete stranger but you should never put yourself in such a position where trust is your only hope if they are the 'bad guy'. Its reallt too bad too because Im sure more than 90% of the time the intention is all good but you just cant take that chance

No way. If i do not know you then i do not stop for you...especially with my kids in the car.

I would never let somebody, man or woman, in my car especially if I had my kids with me.

That being said, I ran out of gas about 10 years ago on my way to my parents house for Thanksgiving. It was cold and cloudy and about a 5 mile walk either way to a town to get gas or call someone. I sat in my car for a little, then got out and lifted the hood and still no one stopped. I finally started walking and all these Mercedes, Lexus, BMWs (my parents live in a super nice retirement area) drove by me. Finally, a really old beat up car turned around and asked if I needed a ride. It was a young couple with a tiny baby in the back seat. The man worked for walmart. THey took me to a gas station, got me a gas tank and some gas and drove me back to my car. I was so thankful for their help and still remember it to this day.

Nope. I will offer help to someone, but I will not let anyone in my car.
I have been in a physical fight while driving (it was someone I knew, not a stranger), and it is extremely hard to fend someone off of you and control the vehicle. You think you would just hit the brakes, and fight or run, but it's not that simple. I even had a pocket knife within my reach, but trying to grab the wheel, block hits and keep his hands off of things like the emergency brake and steering wheel made it impossible to get the knife.
So I don't want to take the chance and put myself in that situation with a stranger.

I have given and accepted rides, and never came to any harm. I trust my gut as to whether to stop for someone or whether to accept a ride.

If I was with my husband, we would probably stop.
If I was alone, I would not allow a strange man to get in the car with me (either alone or if I had my son with me).
My husband would probably pick him up if he as alone & saw someone like that: man, woman or woman with child.
If I was alone and saw a woman, or a woman with a child, I would (and have done so) stop and offer help--a ride or use of a cell phone.
I have accepted a ride in a situation like that--ran out of gas & it was raining and a very nice guy drove me to a gas station & phone. This was BCP (before cell phones)!

When I was a kid occasionally we'd be out walking (to church or because our car broke down or whatever) and we'd get a ride. Mom would evaluate the situation and whether or not it was safe. I personally would be very cautious because I'm usually traveling with my 3 yr old daughter and I'm not a big person myself. I would not be likely to stop for anybody except maybe another mom and what I'd be MORE likely to do is call the police station and report that someone was broken down.

Updated

When I was a kid occasionally we'd be out walking (to church or because our car broke down or whatever) and we'd get a ride. Mom would evaluate the situation and whether or not it was safe. I personally would be very cautious because I'm usually traveling with my 3 yr old daughter and I'm not a big person myself. I would not be likely to stop for anybody except maybe another mom and what I'd be MORE likely to do is call the police station and report that someone was broken down.

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Here is what happened to me.
Our van broke down. I had all 4 of the kids with me, HUbby was deployed, we were in Upper Mi, miles from anywhere. So I figured the best chance I had was to get the kiddos out of the car, three in car seats, and start walking to the nearest town.
A very kind gentleman picked us up in his pickup, brought me to my parents' summer home, 13 miles away and proceeded to have his nephew get the van to his shop. I remain forever grateful to this man. I never once thought I or we would have met with ill fate. I guess I am just naive.
My husband will pick up people walking away from cars with or without gas cans.
I always say to the kids, as I am speeding down the road in a huge hurry, Oh Gee I bet he needs help, but we're late as usual.
I did stop for one man, I had passed him twice so I figured he needed something. He had already called his son and the son was on his way.

ETA We have had fuel pump issues where we ran out of gas a few times. Even though we have had the thing replaced I still go by how many miles we have traveled since the last fillup. So at 300 miles on the tripometer I fill up and always return it to zero. I know with my 28 gallon tank I can go 336 miles but I never chance it.

My husband is a cop and he would shoot me if I ever picked up a stranger. I have taken the gas can and filled it for strangers and I have also called for assistance for strangers though. I don't ever just leave them stranded.

It matters.

In Hawaii it is legal to have people ride in the back of pick up truck. If it was a truck, yes I would pick them up (regardless of gender) or take the ride, even with a child or 2.

I have gotten rides before from a group of missionaries and was goinqg to turn them down until they told me I would have to share a seat with a bunch of Bibles.

I am uber cautious. I have stopped and helped people, but I have never let them in my car. I would probably stop and offer to go get the gas really quick, while he waits at his car.

This is exactly why we pay our yearly membership to AAA! We have used it for so many unexpected emergencies while we're driving.
I would not offer a ride to someone that needs help, though I might offer to call someone to help them or maybe get gas and bring it back to them or something along those lines. You just never know!
I wouldn't accept a ride from anyone I didn't know. I would rather sit in my car on the side of the freeway waiting for a police officer than a random stranger. I would not turn down someone's offer to call the police for me.
Basicly I would offer or accept help up to going somewhere with them or taking them somewhere.

I would never get in a car with a stranger, and I would never offer anyone a ride especially with my kids in the car. Sounds awful I know but you just never know. When I was a kid we drove from Texas to Canada several times in cars that would over heat and I remember people stopping to offer help. I guess things have just changed, I have road side assistance so I don't have to be in a tough spot(I hope)

No I would never pick someone up or get in the car with a stranger. If I saw a women walking with a gas can I would probably just get her gas can and tell her to go wait in her car and get her gas and bring it back. Not even sure I would do that. I usually have my kids and take no chances where their safety is concerned. I know you didn't ask for advice on you gas gage issue but why dont' you just make sure to put gas in every couple days? My husband had a car with a broken gas gage and he would fill up every week and top off after about 4 days of driving usually only like 5 or 10 bucks but he never ran out of gas..in THAT car but he ran out in another junker he had..lol and the gas gage worked..

I'm late here. Sorry! To answer the question, I've done both. I've picked someone (both he and she) up and I have graciously accepted rides. I know you can't always 'see' evil, but my gut is usually pretty good and I have denied a ride before.

Now, I know this isn't your question, but I have a suggestion to help with the running out of gas thing (I did it twice before my hubby made this 'rule') because the gas gage is broke on our family vehicle as well. We always reset the milage tracker and regas up at 300 miles. Period! Sometimes we can get 380, sometimes only 320, but since I've been more aware of the milage, I find myself stuck less often.