Damsel (or cute guy) in Distress: Do you stop?

Suzy, I hope you consider coming to one of our masshole get-togethers..... I'll try to keep you posted.

I know around here that staties and local police are always cruising the highways. If it were nightime, or in a remote area I'd help out somehow. Like I said, it'd probably be a phone call to the police dept about a break down.

Littlek, I think I am ready to do that later this year!

Ceili, yikes! That's awful. I finally gave up hitchhiking in the late 70's or thereabouts, when some freak whose name, I believe, is Larry Singleton, picked up a girl and later chopped off her arms before releasing her. Something like that will teach you a lesson you don't soon forget. just remember, better safe than 'softy" :wink:

eoe, I hear ya! I only got my license 5 years ago (when I was 38) so when my kids were small, we mostly walked everywhere or took the T. One night, we had missed the train and took a late one. when we got off, we still had about a mile's walk ahead of us. it was dark and freezing cold. we walked about half the way, then we sat on a curb in front of a restaurant to rest. a kindly woman stopped and offered us a ride home. It was so tempting because we were freezing, but I had always taught my kids not to get in a car with a stranger, so... I felt like a dumbass, and I'm sure she thought I was, but I refused her offer and we finished walking home. Those were the days!
The woman who stopped for you was either very foolish or very brave. Hey, maybe she was a psycho and just wanted to get your hubby into her car. You never can tell.

Suzy, don't I know you from somewhere....

When I'm driving down the highway, I'm usually not in the right lane, so I wouldn't have time to stop even if I considered it...and it would be unlikely that I would stop, especially on the highway. But, you never know.

One question, though, when you signed up with AAA, how did you figure you were going to call them when you broke down? Isn't that like ordering internet access at your house without owning a computer? :wink:

I guess I shouldn't have been so blase about the whole thing because it was a gash, a flesh wound. No worrires....However, the implications were scary.
As some of you may know, I drove a series of terrible vehicles, a pinto being the pinnacle. We also have terrible winters and at times treacherous roads. So, I have had many an experience standing by the roadside, sometime mid ditch. I can't tell you how many nice people have been helpful. Maybe I'm lucky. I believe what goes around comes around.

But you know, I have hopped in the car with strangers, guys I didn't know, back when I was a young, stupid girl. If he was cute and the car was cute and I was standing there waiting for a bus, I'd jump in. I did this quite a few times and nothing bad ever happened but this was the '60's, early '70's, and times were different. Or so they seemed.

Like Ceili said, "what goes around comes around."
I always try to help others when I can. Over the years, I've had three flat tires on the highway. No sooner would I pull the jack and the spare from the trunk, that someone would come along and change it for me.

Traditionally, tying a white cloth to your side mirror (or door handle/window/antenna/etc.) indicates that you need help/would like someone to stop. Of course, I guess you could also just paint a big bullseye on your car for all the psychos cruising the highway.
I used to always stop for people when I was single (I grew up in Ohio, you know), but since I got married I've been more cautious--it's no longer just me who's affected if the person I stop for is a predator. My wife and I both carry cell phones now, so I would at least call the state police if I saw someone in trouble.

Oh, I never heard that about the white cloth, Labrat!
Slappy, I got AAA for my son, who drives a beater, and got myself an associate membership, because I get a discount on my insurance. (5%) Anyway, it is best to be prepared, right? AAA comes with a $5000 bail bond, so there's another eventuality I don't have to worry about! Should I ever get arrested, I don't have to worry about spending the night in the slammer!
Ceili, a Pinto?!
eoe, We were a lot more trusting back then, huh? At the end of the 70's, early 80's, a bunch of my friends died in their cars, drinking, speeding, etc., and we began to hear stories about hitchhikers being maimed or killed. It was like the end of the innocence for me. The preservation of my life became more important than partying whenever an opportunity presented itself! we all earn eventually to mend the foolish ways of our youth!
Colorblock, if only that were true! Many good people never do get "payback". What goes around doesn't always come around. Life is too random for that. It wasn't until I was in my 30's that I realized my mother was right, life IS unfair. But one can always hope!

Oh, and Jer, I prefer a mug, myself! But I'd drink coffee out of an oilcan if that was the only way I could get it!

I usually try to stop if I can do so safely. 495 and 128 are a big challenge in the "safely" department. It's just a habit carried over from living in more rural areas where pretty much everybody stopped and offered help.

But yeah, the white flag thing make sit known that you need help. They also have the winshield sun deflector thingies and many have a "Assitance needed!" sign on the back. You just unfold it and stick it up in your back window.

I know how to change a flat, but each time I've had one, some nice guy has stopped to help. Once it was a trucker. Another guy said he exited and came back around to help me because I was reading the directions!

However, once my car died on the highway in the middle of the night. I raised the hood, turned on the flashers, and got back in the car. Lots of cars went by. After about 45 minutes, when the third police car went by without stopping, I decided to walk to a payphone. It turned out ok, but I was mad!

I guess I should get a cell phone, but I keep putting it off. I just hate to spend the money for something I have no plans to use.

Ask for it for a birthday or Christmas gift, mac. And you don't even need to sign up for service if you just want it to call 9-1-1. You can leave it in your glove compartment for emergencies.

don't leave it in the glove box, leave it on the charger, and remember to unplug the charger when you park for the night. (The current crop of chargers drain the charge from your battery if they're plugged in, even if they are not charging the phone.) It wouldn't be good to pull out the cell phone, and find it is dead.

Wow, thanks for the advice. I hadn't heard that about chargers.

CCW is key here....

What's CCW?

Carrying Concealed Weapons...

Aah.
I have this thing about concealed weapons, though. I think they're more of a deterrent if kept in the open! Whose gonna be scared to try something if they don't know you're packin?
So here's my idea: After a good samaritan pulls over, he approaches you, and you ask for help while flashing your gun. "Could you help me change my tire? Try anything funny and I'll shoot! Thanks so much for stopping!"
Hmmm... I don't know!maybe your idea is better!

I think the idea is that it shouldn't look like the old west. CCW laws are being put in place in more and more states and the crime rate is dropping. But not in Taxachusetts.

Well then how do people who own guns in MA get them from one place to another? I don't get it.
I'm with you, though. I am opposed to many (but not all) aspects of gun control.