If you’re wanting to travel but doesn’t have the funds to get yourself around on your own or are wanting to see the world in a bit of a different way, hitchhiking might be a great option for you. Especially if you feel like you’re in a relatively safe area, hitching a ride from other drivers going the same direction as you can be a great way to get to where you’re going while meeting new people along the way.
However, we’ve all heard scary stories about how dangerous it can be to hitchhike. But if you’re smart and take the right precautions, hitchhiking can be a safe form of travel. To show you how this can be done, here are three tips for staying safe while hitchhiking.
Avoid Hitchhiking Out Of Desperation
As was mentioned above, hitchhiking can be a great way to travel without having to spend a lot of money. However, hitchhiking out of desperation can be a quick way to get yourself into some potentially tricky situations.
Kelly Lewis, a contributor to Thrillist.com, shares that hitchhiking should be something you do because you’ve chosen to travel this way, not simply because it’s your only option. If you’re hitchhiking for this reason, you might make bad decisions about your own safety just because you’re so desperate to get a ride.
Approach People, Don’t Just Take Whoever Stops For You
When most people think of hitchhikers, they envision someone walking or standing on the side of the road with their thumb out, begging from a ride from complete strangers. And while this is one way to do it, it’s definitely not the safest way.
Ideally, Francis Tapon, a contributor to Forbes.com, shares that you should try to approach people at gas stations or other high-traffic travel areas. By doing this, you’ll be able to gauge if someone seems like a good or safe person to ask for a ride from. The last thing you want to do is accept a ride from someone who might not be safe behind the wheel or is looking to take advantage of others.
Don’t Hitchhike After Dark
As you go through your days hitchhiking, Kiersten Rich, a contributor to Trip Savvy, advises that you try your best to get to your daily destination by the time the sun sets. Otherwise, try to find a place to hunker down for the night and rest up until the sun rises the next morning. Being close to the road in the dark can be very dangerous for you and for the drivers on the road, so make sure you give them a wide berth when night falls.
If you’re thinking about hitchhiking during your next travel adventure, consider using the tips mentioned above to help yourself stay safe.
My name is Sadio and welcome to Bare-foot my personal travel blog