One rare day, in a large city, I pulled over to help a stranded driver because I saw she was my coworker. It was miles from the office, and I was driving slow enough to recognize her.
But I’ve never stopped to help another stalled driver as yet, then again, only seen them on busy highways. My car was stalled in a state forest, when a couple of folks walking by offered to help me.
I wonder what I’d do if I passed by someone stalled on a secluded road. Guess it can depend on who they are.
I think stranded female drivers get the benefit of the doubt more than males. Better if they’re elderly women.
On two separate occasions, my wife and my daughter were beneficiaries of the goodness of some random motorists, both due to car radiator issues, and thankfully happened during the day in an area with heavy traffic.
I wouldn’t help unless I have everything on video.
“I hope you don’t mind, this is for our own safety.”
Back in the day I used to but anymore, I am not sure. With cell phones and road services I feel as though the steps they need to take are in their own hand. At least around here. I often wonder about the fear a person would have when a 300 lbs. six-foot-one ugly mug like me pulls over to help someone of how scared they might become.
With the way things are around here I just do not feel comfortable stopping. If I was off road and someone needed help, I would more than likely ask if I could help.
I agree with @Todd30, now-a-days, everyone has cell phones, and there is a real danger of us becoming a victim due to a staged disabled vehicle. As we all have cell phones, we could just call the police to inform of a driver needing assistance.
@Will_B, many years ago, on my way home from work, there was a major car crash involving more than several vehicles that had just occurred. Everyone was driving around the cars. I pulled over and assisted a couple of the victms. As I was doing that, EMTs arrived, so I may not have been “needed”, but I at least made them feel better while real help was on the way.
In the past, pre-ubiquitous cell phone ownership, I did stop for disabled vehicles. Where I lived, it was typically many miles between towns and police were few and far between. I once needed similar assistance, so I can readily relate. Since then, I have called a few times when it seemed necessary, and once when an accident occurred literally right in front of me, I did stop to assist and direct traffic until police arrived.
I’m having a real hard time with this one Burdo. The ‘Good Samaritan’ in me say’s
‘YES’ pull over (It’s the decent thing to do). The Gunner in me say’s ‘Nope’ not gonna happen’. A couple of experiences (documented here) where I tried to HELP the last few years have left a sour taste in my mouth. Homeless folk’s now have cell phones!, If you can’t afford Roadside Service for your ride out here you can dial ‘311’ and get Free Tow/Mechanical assistance. ‘Rendering Aid’ to crash victims?.. In my physical condition? so sorry, I’d need ‘assistance’ after what little supplies my IFAK I carry ran out? Unless it’s on a dark desert highway (and they may be Bobcat bait…maybe) but am I really going to chance being shot N killed meself?—these days? Not a friggin’ chance.
So I guess I answered the question in my head-----Hard NO. That’s not a hill I choose…
I have stopped and provided assistance when conditions are brutal, like in a snow storm. That can easily be a life threatening situation in the northern Midwest.
Unfortunately, society has ruined things like that.
Over many years in rural Western NY, I stopped to help people, and I was helped by people on a few occasions. I remember one time a guy in a pickup gave my old Chevy a tow for several miles off I-390 to an exit with an auto parts store where I could get what I needed to get going again.
Now days, I’d be very, very reluctant to stop, and I wouldn’t want someone stopping for me. Even someone harmless looking could be a trap. Maybe it’s that I’m now in a very populated state full of transients, the times, and the general lack of concern so may people have for humanity, or what, but the highways seem to be pretty dangerous places these days. As much as I don’t like driving by someone broken down, on the flip side, I would extremely concerned if I was on the roadside and someone pulled in behind me. I just don’t trust people anymore.
Now, if it’s a crash and I’m first on scene, of course. I’ve helped people then and will continue to do so. If it’s just a random car stopped on the side of the interstate with the hood open, no way.
It would all depend on the appearance of the occupants, the location of the breakdown (specifically, the difference between something like Chicago and The Villages), and the immediate hazards present for both myself and the victims.
Where I live, there are still many people (especially elderly) that haven ‘t embraced cell phones. Or have one ‘for emergencies’ that they have no idea how to use, and hasn’t been charged since their kid got it for them. There are also still many areas with dead cell coverage, which doesn’t help anyone.
If it is clearly something like an elderly person, AND in a area with a low probably of being a crime, then I would probably stop. Or at least stop along side, roll down the window, and try to ask if they need help. If anything looks the least bit questionable, I drive by and ignore it. If it’s something in the middle, I would probably call 911 and report someone may need assistance.
These days, stopping to help a stranded motorist can be just as dangerous as picking up a random hitch-hiker. Add to that the fact that I’m now the “old guy”; not as young or fit as I used to be, so I may be of limited use. Besides that, I would be utterly useless with today’s vehicles for anything more than a tire change or battery jump. Much of a decision as to whether or not to stop would be based on a split-second gut reaction to the appearance of the scene and persons involved. Young children or old folks could sway my thinking. (What can I say? In some ways I’m still a sucker.)
That being said, a while back I did stop for a single vehicle accident. I came around a sharp curve on a narrow, newly repaved rural state highway to see a single axel farm truck sitting partly on/partly off the road. From the look of the crunched cab and ton or so of corn spread over the road it was obvious that the truck had rolled over. I could see and old guy (my age!) in the driver’s seat.
I stopped, my wife grabbed the first aid kit, and we ran over to check on the driver. (Note: running on a couple inches of dry corn spilled over a hard surface is similar to running on ball bearings.) The driver couldn’t reach his phone because his right arm wasn’t working. That and a bump on the head were the only visible injuries. He was awake and aware so we did what little first aid we could, called for police and EMT’s, and waited with him until help arrived. In the meantime I took a bunch of pictures of the scene and used my phone to help him call his son.
Everything ended as well as could be expected. The driver had only a mild concussion and dislocated shoulder. I emailed the pictures to the responding sheriff’s deputy for the report, and to the son for the insurance claim. The moron who tried to pass a farm truck on a sharp curve, only to force the truck off the edge of the pavement, was never caught.
If I come upon a similar situation in the future, I’ll probably stop. Random car on the side of the road with no visible emergency? I’ll note the location and call it in.
The current state of affairs out there has jaded me, forcing me to restrain my humanity in favor of my safety.
You reminded me of a night my wife and two young sons were waiting at a red light and a Nissan Z car crashed straight into a wall built to keep people from driving into Pensacola/Escambia Bay. I ran to the car and could not see inside because it was filled with smoke. Long story short the driver didn’t know who or where he was, but I made the decision it was safer for both of us if he got out and we got away from the car. A crowd had gathered and I disappeared into it as soon as the ambulance arrived.
I’ll admit I was concerned about being sued if pulling him out of the car turned out to be the wrong decision. Good samaritan law might of protected me, but I was taking no chances. It’s shame our society has come to this point … and this story is from more than 20 years ago.
In my experience, the decision to intervene depends heavily on the circumstances. In your scenario, you had some familiarity with the individual, or at least a sense of who they were, which naturally makes it easier to offer assistance. During my time on patrol, we encountered a group of gang members who exploited motorists by using young, attractive women posing with “car trouble.” When well-intentioned drivers stopped to help, they were robbed or had their vehicles stolen. This tactic later evolved into luring individuals to hotel rooms through various apps or even Craigslist, back when it was widely used, where they were then victimized by the women’s male accomplices.
Because of experiences like these, I tend to be cautious. If the situation appears to fall within my skill set and seems reasonably safe, I may choose to help. That being said, my willingness has diminished over time, especially as I’ve seen increasing instances of people, often women, suing or making false allegations against those who attempted to assist or even save them, such as in near-drowning incidents.
