How many of you will stop and help someone when they are stuck on the side of the road? I was getting on the freeway last night and a guy was stopped with his blinkers on, and another car behind him. I stopped to make sure they didn't need a cell phone or anything like that. The couple of times I have been on the side, nobody stopped for me. I had to change tires on a trailer after tread separation. It seems like nobody is willing to help someone else out because it will hole them up another 20 minutes. I try and stop if I can, but if it looks suspicious, or dangerous in any way, I keep on moving. Would you be willing to stop for someone?

 

depending on the circumstances...I will stop. If the situation is already under control (ie: 3 or 4 others stopped, then I don't) if its a lady, I would always stop. Depending on how many men are in the vehicle or what the situation is would depend on if I stopped to help the fellas out. Don't mind helping...just don't want to put myself in a bad situation.

 

When my truck jumped time, we made it to the the off ramp, and while I was under the hood, my girlfriend was leaning on the drivers door, and all kinda people were stopping trying to help. She was stoppin traffic! Ive helped people, but Im kinda leery about it. They make horror movies that start out like that.......

 

I help when the situation warrents it also. If one or more vehicles or already there I don't. I have even turned around to help someone. BUT... alot of times I have needed help and not recieved any. I've broke down on a state highway late at night and had people drive right by. And I'm talking about living in a rural area where alot of locals know what I drive. I've broke down in broad daylight with my bike in a parking lot. Spent an hour trying to push start it and finally asked four people for jumpers, finally had one person reluctantly help me. Whom I thanked for his help.
I wonder about where the Good Smaritan principle went to some times.
But I have also just pulled over on the shoulder to check something and had a couple of people ask if I needed help, it seems times like this are to few and to far between.

 

Unfortunately, helping someone out, is one of those judgement calls. Being a woman, the couple of times I broke down, within minutes someone stopped to help. On the other hand, I will never stop for someone if I'm alone or if it is dark out.
This brings back an incident that happened to a very good friend of mine. He was riding his Harley in the wee hours of the morning, going to a bike rally. He was alone, and as he was riding, he was hit by a big buck(deer). Fortunately, he is a big guy and he was able to keep the bike up, as he slowed to a stop. The impact of the deer crushed and broke his leg in six places. He couldn't put the kick stand down, because that was the side that was hurt. He couldn't gracefully lay the bike down without getting pinned. He stood on the side of the road, bleeding, and in pain, for about a half an hour. Many people drove right by him. And the reason why they didn't stop is because he is a Hell's Angel.

 

actually...one time when I was in college and living at home, I was looking down and didn't see the person on the side of the road.... there was a tow truck and a smaller car ....that was all I saw...got home and about an hour later, my mom walked in the door...wanted to know why I didn't stop and help rather than drive by....BOY did I feel like a JERK!

 

i was run off the road one time by what i think was a drunk driver (was coming head on at me on a two lane road) lost control and went into a ditch and got stuck in the mud. (2wd suburban) my friend and our dates all got out and tried for hours digging and pushing. almost got it out but just couldn't get over the hill. finally some guy stopped, but didn't really want to try pulling me out because he thought my burb was to heavy, i told him that it just needs a slight tug nothing major. so he did and i gave him 20 bucks for his help and his truck. he was really happy about it and i was glad to get out of that ditch with out having to call my dad (we were not were i told him we were going that night!) no i make it a point to stop and help when i can. i have pulled many people out of snow in the winter time and give people jump starts when needed. sometimes get some money sometimes don't. doesn't matter to me. i help with the hope that when i need it i will get it.

 

Ya those Hell's Angels sure have a PR problem.

Most I've met were pretty good guys but it's not like they've done nothing to deserve their rep.

 

Too true sinjin.
Most of them are good guys. I've known this guy, and a couple of other HA's for over twelve years. But the long lasting friendship still doesn't comfort me when I think that my name is on a FBI watch list, just for being a friend. Angel's they are not. And I know that if I didn't have them as friends, I probably wouldn't stop to help them either.

 

So far, I've stopped and helped in several situations. A few times I offered and was told it was under control, but I've helped others in many situations. Thinking back...

(1) Older woman who'se Caddy Cimaron broke down on the side of a major road. Tried to get it started again to no avail. Wound up giving her a ride home (said her brother was a mechanic and would deal with it). I lost about 45 minutes of my time, but was happy to help. Wasn't offered any money, nor would I have accepted it if offered. What pissed me off was when a cop just ignored us as he passed the scene...

(2) Another woman in a Benz on the side of the road... I diagnosed she was out of gas & had a stuck needle. Went to the gas station & borrowed one of their gas cans. Delivered 2 gallons to the lady. She offered me some $$$, but I refused. Gave her my business card instead and told her to remember me in case she needs a Realtor.

(3) Pulled out a stuck plow truck after a heavy snow storm. Even drove past the scene a while later to make sure he didn't get stuck again. Was offered $$$, but again I refused.

(4) Pulled out a minivan stuck in some really wet grass. Made him tie-off his own axle (he was a strong healthy guy -- why should I get dirty?). Was offered $$$, but again I refused. But I did give him my business card.

(5) I was on the interstate nearing my exit and saw a vehicle in the shoulder with hazzards on, and a guy outside the car. It was dark and I was hesitant, but my good-samaritan nature got to me. I stopped & let him use my cell phone. The guy was very happy -- said he'd been there for 10-15 minutes and I was the only person to stop for him. He used my phone to call a tow truck and his wife to let her know he'd be late. Couldn't stop telling her how "a really nice guy from Jersey stopped to help me out and let me use his cell." I guess Jersey people don't have a good rep in that touristy area of upstate NY -- glad to change his mind about us.

6) Saw a trailer truck on the side of the highway just past the Home Depot... turns out he was trying to make a delivery and couldn't find the truck entrance. I told him where to make the U-turn and to find the right entrance. Went in to do some last minute gear shopping before they closed -- came back out 15 minutes later only to find the same truck pulling back onto the same shoulder. Turns out he passed the entrance again! So I escorted him through the U-turn and into the right entrance. He tried to offer me some $$$, but I refused and gave him my business card instead.

7) Saw a conversion van trying to tow a small Chevy with rope twine (what were they thinking?)... stopped to see if they needed help, and wound up handing them my towing strap. They said they were going down the road to the flea-market to see if they could get some chains or additional towning straps since they were going to drag the Chevy down the highway for another 100 miles. I stopped by again on my way back, as they were hooking up the strap the bought to the one I had handed them. The jerks didn't even offer to give my my strap back, or reimburse me for it! It was a really nice one, too (other than being a few feet shorter than original, as I had to cut it loose a few times). That incident I'm still upset about... I hope the cheap strap they bought failed and left them stranded! I'll never hand my gear to anyone else again... kept my strap and didn't even shake my hand... the nerve of those jerks!

There's a few other times I helped people out, but I think that's enough for now. It's just in my nature to help others -- I would hope that others would do the same if my mom or my sister needed it. But I have also driven past several scenes where I didn't stop -- if I see a couple healthy guys on the scene, I figure they don't need one more.

 

Hottie,

Ever read Hunter S. Thompson's book about them?

It's called "Hell's Angels". He lived with them for a year.
Very good read but scary at times.

 

Scared enough already. I don't want to know anymore. And to be perfectly honest, they keep me out of that side of their lives as much as possible.

 

I have given rides, charged tires for women, pushed cars to the side of the road, jump started dead batteries all for free. I have CHARGED guys that get me up in the middle of the night because they have been out fourwheeling on a dirt road near our place and got stuck. They can pay for their ignorance.

One guy I tried to help but ended up leaving him in the ditch. He was driving a little Honda SUV on I70 west of Topeka and went off the road into the ditch. I pulled up in my old Gran Marquis and offered him a ride. Instead he wanted me to pull him out. Road is completely ice covered, no good place to hitch a rope onto the car, I could only drive about thirty and no way was that big old RWD car going to drag him out of the ditch in those conditions. He kept insisting and leave his car. I drove off and left him, I hope he spent the night and learned a little about taking the help offered.

 

I've called the state police for a standed motorist several times. I usually do so in passing. These days, you can't judge a book by its cover. Better to let the professionals help. I will help out a trucker though. I've yet to run into one that doesn't appreciate your time. The general public, for the most part, isn't like that.

 

I usually will stop to help. I have towed several people out of the snow, Once pulled a tractor trailer off the road then took the
driver to get fuel.
I stoped once for this newer caddie in a deep ditch.I ended up with no car, wallet, or glasses and A few cuts and scrapes. Lucky they didnt kill me. Tuned out it was A stolen car and all four were miners. The police found my car the next day it was totaled.
So now when I stop I make sure its only one person or I dont stop.