# 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:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/41 "2011-02-12T06:40:16Z")
> [@Kevbo](#): > > Those of that are a bit handy and were around before cell phones still feel the urge to help if we can…Motorcyclists are pretty good about helping each other. Failure to do so is a sure sign of a poser. If you are stopped along the road, it is polite to keep an eye on traffic and give a thumbs up to the passing bikes that will stop to offer help if you don’t. I’m a girl biker. I loves, LOVES being the one to tell a car ignorant man how to jump start his car. I live in the middle of nowhere and ride in lonely places. I do go armed. When I’m on the side of the road, I am more trusting of bikers than guys in pick up trucks. The only time the police have stopped for me is when I’ve flagged them down. ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/42 "2011-02-12T15:28:51Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > I do go armed. . Yeah…well…that makes all the difference in the world. Doesnt it? ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/43 "2011-02-12T15:57:39Z")
> [@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. Interesting logic. Approaching an occupied car is very risky and potentially very dangerous, yet any passing rapist, thug, motorcycle gang or thief will gladly do it. There seems to be an inconsistency here. ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/44 "2011-02-12T17:04:33Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Approaching an occupied car is very risky and potentially very dangerous, yet any passing rapist, thug, motorcycle gang or thief will gladly do it. There seems to be an inconsistency here. Not at all. Most/nearly all victims of violent crime are unarmed, therefore there is comparatively very little risk for the rapist, thug, motorcycle gang to approach the stranded motorist to commit a crime. Moreover, even among the few armed citizens, most armed citizens sitting on the side of the road who were “intended” victims, will usually draw their gun, show their gun, and warn the attacker to go away - again, with no risk to the criminal. A criminal approaching an intended victim sitting in a car, exposes himself to no more risk, no\*\*\* additional \*\*\*risk, than he otherwise would encounter anywhere he attacks someone in his normal day-to-day criminal activities. There is no “extra” risk for a criminal to attack a stranded motorist as opposed to attacking his victim somewhere else. Furthermore, attacking a stranded motorist in the middle of nowhere away from any possible witnesses away from any possible help is probably MUCH safer for the criminal than attacking a victim where others could come to aid. Attacking a stranded unarmed motorist is probably the “safest” attack(for the criminal) that there is. Furthermore, if a criminal pulls up behind you to attack you as a stranded motorist, any other potential good samaritan driving by will more than likely just keep on driving since they figure out that the stranded motorist probably already is being assisted. Almost nobody will stop to help if they see somebody else is already on the scene. Passing motorists will not be able to differentiate that it is actually a criminal who stopped behind you. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Surb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Surb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Surb)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/45 "2011-02-13T18:20:14Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > 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. After reading further, it sounds like you should have shot the fucker after he changed your tire. He might have tried to shake your hand or something. You can’t be too careful these days! Especially if there are bikers around, too. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2011, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/46 "2011-02-14T09:35:58Z")
Did you have the hood of the van up? That’s the international signal for “need road assistance” and people would be more likely to stop. I’ve stopped to help people many times. Last summer, I was driving home from my mom’s, who lives out in the middle of nowhere. I saw a car with the hood up, I stopped and gave the guy some water for the radiator. It wasn’t all that hot out, maybe 70 but it was a POS car. He said he’d been sitting there an hour, no one had stopped. He even offered me money for the jug of water he was so thankful. I pshawed the idea and said keep it. Then again, a few weeks later I saw another car pulled off with the hazard lights on and hood up, the lady _freaked out_ as I walked up to the car. You’d have thought I was carrying my murder-machete with me or something. It was broad daylight, lots of traffic and within the city limits so it’s not like she was out in the middle of nowhere. Anyways, she screamed through her rolled up window that help was on the way and insisted that I leave. No skin off my nose, I left. ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2011, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/47 "2011-02-14T10:15:44Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > 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. Am I the only one who tried to click on that? ---
**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 14, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/48 "2011-02-14T14:50:48Z")
> [@The\_Surb](#): > > After reading further, it sounds like you should have shot the fucker after he changed your tire. He might have tried to shake your hand or something. You can’t be too careful these days! > > Especially if there are bikers around, too. In hindsight, you’re probably correct. That whole friendly citizen act was likely all a ruse to butter me up, so that I would let my guard down and trust him in the future. Any day now, he’s gonna make his move. When I die, it was him. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/49 "2011-02-14T15:46:32Z")
No, I tried to too, and I have read the thread. But I just wanted to add to the datum: My car has broken down a couple of times. The previous car but one had the distributor cap blow abruptly, and then the car just winds down. Thankfully I was able to pull over as it was in rush-hour traffic, and get on the side of the road. I didn’t have a cell phone in those days so I walked to the next exit and called from a gas station. When I got back to the car, I had a note from the HELP people on the highway - I didn’t know, but they drive every day on rush hour to help stranded motorists. In the time I sat there I had another person stop to help me, and a cop pulled over too, and asked if I needed help. I told them help was coming. I have never not had nice people stop. I wonder if the person in the OP was just sort of like, “I want to help this guy but I’m afraid he’ll think I’m weird or something” and ended up looking weird anyway. Then again, knock on wood, I have never been stranded alone, at night, on a rural road. I might be freaked too. ---
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2011, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/50 "2011-02-14T15:51:02Z")
People always stop when I have car trouble and they’re always really nice. I offer others rides/help when I can. There’s a line between situational awareness and paranoia. I think folks err on the side of paranoid a little too often. ---
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2011, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/51 "2011-02-14T16:19:05Z")
I bet you won’t leave your Kalashnikov at home NEXT TIME, hippie! ---
**Author:** ![AllShookDown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@AllShookDown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllShookDown)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2011, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/52 "2011-02-14T18:28:53Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > While, I can appreciate your concern over wasting other people’s time who might stop to offer assistance when you already have help on the way, 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. > > It’s a shame that people tend to think the worst of others first. It’s happened a couple of times around here recently: [Stranded woman sexually assaulted.](http://www.easterniowanewsnow.com/2010/11/08/21-year-old-woman-assaulted-in-grant-county/) [Man robbed after getting stuck in snow bank.](http://madisonneareast.channel3000.com/news/crime/man-robbed-after-getting-stuck-snow-bank/47391) ---
**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 14, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/53 "2011-02-14T19:45:05Z")
> [@AllShookDown](#): > > It’s happened a couple of times around here recently: > > [Stranded woman sexually assaulted.](http://www.easterniowanewsnow.com/2010/11/08/21-year-old-woman-assaulted-in-grant-county/) > > [Man robbed after getting stuck in snow bank.](http://madisonneareast.channel3000.com/news/crime/man-robbed-after-getting-stuck-snow-bank/47391) That’s all you got? Two incidents over the last 4 months? According to Susanann, I would expected there to be at least two per day, everyday, in every city across the country. ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/54 "2011-02-14T20:08:13Z")
> [@AllShookDown](#): > > It’s happened a couple of times around here recently: > > [Stranded woman sexually assaulted.](http://www.easterniowanewsnow.com/2010/11/08/21-year-old-woman-assaulted-in-grant-county/) > > [Man robbed after getting stuck in snow bank.](http://madisonneareast.channel3000.com/news/crime/man-robbed-after-getting-stuck-snow-bank/47391) These 2 people were not killed and now have a second chance. Some people never get a second chance. Some people never learn. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/55 "2011-02-14T20:14:33Z")
I have stopped for many folks, and given rides to the next exit 2-3 times at least. When my car has issues (even brand new cars can have issues), I put a sign in my window that states that I have already called AAA - saves everyone a minute or 3. ---
**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 14, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/56 "2011-02-14T20:29:00Z")
> [@Susanann](#): > > These 2 people were not killed and now have a second chance. Some people never get a second chance. Some people never learn. Cite? Please post multiple examples of people that were stuck in their car on the side of road, only to be murdered. ---
**Author:** ![misterW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@misterW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misterW)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2011, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893/57 "2011-02-15T03:55:34Z")
> [@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. $500 is just the under the average price that I have paid for my vehicles. I have always had to do some work on them to get them into running (reliably) condition. I’ve had some vehicles for that price that have given me years of service, but I wouldn’t recommend getting one unless you don’t mind fixing things here and there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-breaks-down-on-side-of-road-you-call-for-help-then-what/570893.md?page=2)