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Originally Posted by Dodger
I used to hitchike everywhere when I was a lad but you never hardly ever see anyone hitchiking now because there has been far too many instances of rape, injuries, deaths to drivers that no one picks them up anymore, you suprise me as well cos I thought US was more dangerous place than UK.
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When I was about 20, more or less, it seemed like everyone hitchhiked, and plenty picked up hitchhikers, you rarely had to wait long. And it was in those days that it seemd there were more bad things that happened. A lady who was a good friend of mine was raped at gunpoint, and another lady I knew well was gangraped. And yet it didn't seemed to stop anyone from doing it in those days. Even those ladies sometimes continued to, except that then they wouldn't go alone.
Now there are not nearly as many, a small fraction of what it used to be. They used to be lined up at all the main streets around here. Not anymore. It takes a lot longer to get a ride. There've been a few times when I had car trouble or locked myself out of my car and had to go home to get a key, and once when I got in an arguement with my ex, when I had to hitchhike. Certainly renewed my sympathies for those who do.
I haven't read about any terrible incidents in some time. But I never worried about it anyhow, and don't suppose I ever will. Most people are careful about this sort of thing, though, and that is why it takes longer to get rides.
Except for high crime areas, I don't think that the US is really so much more dangerous than other countries. If you go around commting crimes, or pissing people off and getting in fights, then there is a greater chance that someone will shoot you, because we have guns. But, actually, I think that there is probably a lot less fighting here for that very reason.