# Car breaks down on side of road. You call for help. Then what? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 10, 2011, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893 "2011-02-10T14:41:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/21 "2011-02-11T03:54:31Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > For $500 you can get a vehicle that will get you from place to place reliably. It may not have the rims you want, the stereo you want, the tinted windows, etc. etc. But it will get you there and back without breaking down. It’s all about what your priorities are. I disagree. A $500 car is nothing but a money pit. It has nothing to do with this other glowicky stuff you seem to think I’d want on a car. I’ve driven plenty of ‘running wrecks’ that I had to constantly be working on just to keep them running. Once a car gets over a certain age, things are wearing out and need to be fixed or replaced with great regularity. > [@](#): > > Too each is own. I don’t live my life assuming that remote possibilities are likely to happen. If that were the case, I’d never leave the house. There is a big difference between being prepared and being scared. Suffice it to say that I’ve lived long enough and seen enough weirdness that I’d rather be prepared. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/22 "2011-02-11T03:56:39Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > Where? When I was shopping around for used cars in college, there was nothing reliable for under a grand. These days it’s even more. Agreed. I won’t buy anything less than about $2500 anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/23 "2011-02-11T14:48:42Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > It was late at night, it’s very cold out, I’m stuck in my van, and I am unarmed. If you are unarmed, then there is no good answer, bc you are totally at the mercy of whoever, or whatever, stops to check you out. ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/24 "2011-02-11T14:53:48Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > … it does seem a bit odd that your bigger concern appeared to be that people were out looking to take advantage of someone stranded on the road. Truly how often does that happen? There are a much higher % of good people in the world, who just want to help, than those that are out to get you. > . While it is true that there are more good people in the world, the raw statistics you suggest are very misleading. It is FAR!! more likely that a bad person will stop to check you out than a good person. Most criminals, most thieves, most murderers, most rapists, most gangs, etc WILL almost certainly stop. Most young female church going Sunday School teachers will not be stopping to help you out. ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/25 "2011-02-11T14:57:17Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Too each is own. I don’t live my life assuming that remote possibilities are likely to happen. If that were the case, I’d never leave the house. More power to you! I am sure the rest of us are all envious of you. You must save a TON!! of money by never buying any insurance! ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/26 "2011-02-11T14:59:54Z")
> [@Susanann](#): > > It is FAR!! more likely that a bad person will stop to check you out than a good person. Do you even have anecdotal evidence to back up this statement? Even from your own experience? As noted above. Most people have anecdotally stated that when they have been stranded, samaritans have stopped to offer assistance. I have yet to see anyone say that when their car broke down they were mugged or attacked. Sure it’s possible that you could be taken advantage of…but as I said above I refuse to live my life sheltering myself from remote chances. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/27 "2011-02-11T15:03:39Z")
> [@Susanann](#): > > More power to you! I am sure the rest of us are all envious of you. > > You must save a TON!! of money by never buying any insurance! Of course I buy insurance, but I certainly don’t try to insure against stupid things. Insurance decisions are monetary decisions, not decisions about random events. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/28 "2011-02-11T15:21:02Z")
I usually stop to see if there is someone I can call for them - but on my way to/from work, I always stop to see if I can help at an accident or a stranded motorist. The uniform gives people a lot of comfort and it calms everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/29 "2011-02-11T15:30:31Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > > [@sandra\_nz](#): > > > > Maybe he thought you were creepy and was trying to decide whether to believe your story or not. 😉 > > My first thought was that he was trying to decide if Crafter\_Man was stealing wifi or looking for a kid to abduct. I’m surprised the police didn’t show up. 😉 Poll: **Suspicious Guy Sitting In Car: What Would You Do?** No, seriously, I think it’s paranoid to fear ill intent on either side. Almost everybody who’s stopped beside the road is there for harmless, mundane reasons. And almost everybody who stops to check is also harmless, and trying to be neighborly. I’ve been in both situations, and it’s not a big deal. You’d be surprised how far you can get by treating people as if they were human beings not unlike yourself. And BTW, somebody may stop and check out–with only the best of intentions–an apparently unoccupied vehicle by the side of the road. Suddenly finding a person _hiding_ in that vehicle would be much more alarming! It seems less dangerous to act like a normal person who has a legitimate reason to be where he is. ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/30 "2011-02-11T15:36:29Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > **Almost** everybody who’s stopped beside the road is there for harmless, mundane reasons. > > And **almost** everybody who stops to check is also harmless, and trying to be neighborly. . **“Almost”** does not mean risk-free. **“Almost”** is potentially a big qualifier…i.e., a game changer. Even a trained healthy physically fit armed policeman always approaches an occupied car sitting on the side of the road with great caution and prepared to defend himself. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/31 "2011-02-11T15:47:07Z")
> [@Susanann](#): > > **“Almost”** does not mean risk-free. So, you **never** take risks that could cause you physical harm? - Do you ever play sports? - Do you swim in the ocean? - Do you ever walk on sidewalks adjacent to busy streets? - Do you ever fly? - Have you ever rode a horse? - Have you ever skiied or snowboarded? I believe that your chance of physical harm or injury are greater in each of those activities, than waiting in your car for someone to stop and help you. ETA: Actually you are probably in greater risk of another car hitting your car while waiting in it, than having someone stop and attack you. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/32 "2011-02-11T15:50:55Z")
> [@Susanann](#): > > **“Almost”** does not mean risk-free. > > **“Almost”** is potentially a big qualifier…i.e., a game changer. > > Even a trained healthy physically fit armed policeman always approaches an occupied car sitting on the side of the road with great caution and prepared to defend himself. Yes. This is not in conflict with anything I said. As **Omar** says, basically nothing is risk-free. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/33 "2011-02-11T15:53:08Z")
> [@Susanann](#): > > Even a trained healthy physically fit armed policeman always approaches an occupied car sitting on the side of the road with great caution and prepared to defend himself. So now you’re saying that the people sitting inside their broken down car are the dangerous ones? I thought it was the people stopping to take advantage of the people in the broken down car? Police are trained to approach all cars with caution. That’s because they stop and approach multiple cars everyday of their jobs. People that are on the run from the law also have a tendency to become violent when they want to get away. To throw that into your argument doesn’t even make sense. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/34 "2011-02-11T16:05:34Z")
I’d just wait for my spouse to come, and wouldn’t be afraid at all. I wouldn’t think that a person asking me if I needed help had designs on dismantling my body. Three times in life I’ve experienced car issues on the road, two were at night, and once a guy even changed my tire for me. Saved me one of my AAA freebies. Maybe I should be afraid of strangers, but I’m not. ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/35 "2011-02-11T16:07:50Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Police are trained to approach all cars with caution. Of course. That is because approaching an occupied car is very risky, and potentially a very dangerous thing to do - even if you are well-armed. Nobody better knows the real danger of approaching strange cars, or vice-versa, then an experienced police officer. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/36 "2011-02-11T16:11:25Z")
> [@Susanann](#): > > Of course. That is because approaching an occupied car is very risky, and potentially a very dangerous thing to do - even if you are well-armed. > > Nobody better knows the real danger of approaching strange cars, or vice-versa, then an experienced police officer. I bet walking through a parking lot is hell for you. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/37 "2011-02-11T16:47:01Z")
It’s probably more accurate to say that _being a police officer_ is potentially dangerous. Parked cars are generally not. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/38 "2011-02-11T16:57:47Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > So I was sitting there in the driver’s seat, and I saw a truck pass me. He turned his truck around and slowly drove up to my window. We rolled down our windows. He asked if I was O.K. I told him my wife was picking me up in a half an hour. He stared at me for about 10 seconds, and then said “O.K.” and drove off. Very creepy. With it being **very** cold out, he was probably wondering how long you’d already been waiting, whether your wife was going to be longer than you thought, whether you had a blanket or other “car trouble in cold weather” gear with you, and how likely you were to _stay_ all right. Lord knows I’d think about all those things before I went off and left someone in those conditions. > [@Susanann](#): > > It is FAR!! more likely that a bad person will stop to check you out than a good person. Well, my personal experience and that of thousands of other people suggests that you are massively, seriously, wrong. I’m 4 for 4 on the people stopping to help me being good folks. None of them have been female Sunday School teachers, granted, so you may have a point about them not stopping. They’ve all been just your garden-variety decent guys who sure wouldn’t their mothers or sisters or wives stuck on the side of the road in 18-degree weather, in deep snow, or at 2 am while dressed as a rabbit (Halloween party.) What kind of hell-hole do you live in anyway, that decent people won’t do the decent thing and try to help someone if they can? ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/39 "2011-02-12T03:54:04Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Of course I buy insurance, but I certainly don’t try to insure against stupid things. Insurance decisions are monetary decisions, not decisions about random events. Well, insurance decisions \*are \*decisions about random events. That’s what makes it insurance. Best wishes, hh ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/40 "2011-02-12T04:28:28Z")
> [@](#): > > What kind of hell-hole do you live in anyway, that decent people won’t do the decent thing and try to help someone if they can? America! Where the first thought is ‘I’m not armed!’. I would be cautious, at that hour, on a side roadway, but I would never think, “I’m not armed!”, though if I lived in the Excited States of America, where most everyone is, I suppose I would. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893.md?page=3)