India comes home in a Maruti: Giving lifts to strangers on the highway

speedmiester · 25th June 2008, 17:48

Usually won't. But once I had to make an exception for a old couple stranded on highway when it was raining heavily. (Wouldn't have felt good, if I had not helped them)

maddy42 · 25th June 2008, 17:54

Well i never give a lift to anyone unless back at home if the guys seem to have broken down their vehicle.

One piece of advice for guys who stop if they see a girl " Dont do that as there were cases in bangalore where a girl is used as a easy way to make people stop to rob them"

hemanthisgreat · 25th June 2008, 17:56

I have never given lifts to strangers on the street, nor do i intend to. Also i have not faced exceptional cases till date.

O.T The guy getting the lift in the maruti ad is a friend's bro, who will also be appearing as a hero in a kannada movie shortly.

Spitfire · 25th June 2008, 20:55

I was on the other side last night. After some trouble broke out due to one of the Airport Cabs fatally knocking down someone, i was left stranded in god knows where after the cab driver took a diversion. He could not drive any further and had gone pale on hearing that cabs were being burnt. The control room could not help too. After a long time away from family didntwant to waste any time in getting home. Hopped on the road and started asking for a lift. A software engineer after dropping his parents was returning back, knew what was happening and promptly offered a lift. He dropped me right uptil my doorstep

By the time i reached the Old airport road it was way past midnight.

I was blessed. Dont expect such behaviour from anyone in Bangalore. This city still has some good folks around. We exchanged numbers and i will surely someday return his help.

rjvora_2000 · 26th June 2008, 10:49

we all say that we should not help but last year i had faced an accident on national highway mumbai gujarat in that case what to do?

What i did was i had reported the accident to near police station with the help of local villager. and then from police station got the mobile no. of toing van and got my car towed from there to mumbai.

i did not asked help from any of the car. but i asked the help from the villager, as i thought that they would be knowing the police station and other information.

bblost · 26th June 2008, 11:51

Gave a lift to the Toll Booth Manager from Nellore till Koyambedu Bus Stop Chennai.
Was a very interesting old man.

But this was a one off chance.

I however had a funny thing happen in Gooty when riding to Bangalore from Hyderabad.
This guy tried to sit on my bike as I stopped at a traffic junction.
Murmurring drop kardo please and some stuff llike that.
He learnt a few new words hyderabadi style.

rmonie · 26th June 2008, 12:29

Not normally. Had a bad experience once years ago where a girl asked me for a lift. Gave her a lift & she asked for a loan! doropped her quickly at the next light & took off! Learnt my lesson pretty quick.

carzy · 27th June 2008, 00:19

No no no. Na munna na, you musn't talk to strangers or give them lifts even if they're scantily clad gals

Watch 'The Hitcher' if you don't believe me. Once I'd taken a injured and stranded pup to the vet though

Saurabh M · 27th June 2008, 00:50

The only instance I have given lift to (a group of) strangers was in a very remote place in Ladakh. I was returning from Hunder to Leh and on the road, there were a groups of monks (mostly childern aged between 10-15) walking along the road. The place was extremely remote and the road was built on the river bed itself. The children were going from one monastery to another, quite far off. They asked for a lift, we picked them up, around 6 in number, and dropped them off to the place, from where they can again walk up to the monastery.

It was a very nice experience, the children sang songs while they were travelling with us, shared their life experiences and thanked profusely as we dropped them and drove off.

In general, on the highway, I would generally not give a lift to anyone.

Thad E Ginathom · 27th June 2008, 01:20

I quite often see guys apparently hitching on the OMR (Chennai) and getting on people's bikes.

My wife says a driver can end up with no bike and no purse, after finding a knife at their throat. Is she exaggerating?

I used to give lifts in UK, years back. Even to some very rough-looking characters. One homeless guy, obviously in need of a bath, trying to get to the next town to see if he find a bed in a hostel on a sub-zero C night. Decent enough guy, though, just fallen on hard times. Never asked for anything, other than the lift, but I gave him five pounds and a spare tin of tobacco.

Only one real stunner of a girl, though --- and unfortunately, she didn't want to go very far with me

akshay4587 · 27th June 2008, 01:40

A big NO
not in city not on highways
Never ask for a ride never give one I follow this rule for self

aah78 · 27th June 2008, 03:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by prabuddhadg

If its a pretty young girl, maybe.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Only one real stunner of a girl, though --- and unfortunately, she didn't want to go very far with me

If a pretty girl's stranded alone on the highway, that's usually very bad news for the samaritan - or maybe I just watch too many movies!

Swiftron · 27th June 2008, 03:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by prabuddhadg

If its a pretty young girl, maybe.....

Pretty or not, Young or Old.....NO WAY in a million years. Had a horrible experience trying to drop off a friend in Vidyaranyapura and was attacked by a drunkard with stones. Fortunately the stone he hurled at us missed my car by a few inches. Thats when i decided, highway or city no stopping for strangers.

ajmat · 27th June 2008, 06:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Only one real stunner of a girl, though --- and unfortunately, she didn't want to go very far with me

I think you have gone far enough with one girl from london to chennai!

Bigzero · 27th June 2008, 09:52

Not on highways - but I have picked up strangers while on long drives, mostly in Kerala . Many of them were school kids waiting for buses to/from school, some of them were people at bus stops/junctions where i had stopped for directions .. I usually go by instinct ( dont know to what extent that may help ) - I have refused lifts on couple of occasions purely based on gut feel though.

But definitely not on deserted stretches on highways etc.

View Poll Results: Would you give a lift to a stranger on a highway?
Yes	1	0.83%
No	85	70.83%
Maybe	34	28.33%
Voters: 120. You may not vote on this poll

25th June 2008, 17:48	#31
speedmiester Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: bangalore Posts: 2,387 Thanked: 6,631 Times	Usually won't. But once I had to make an exception for a old couple stranded on highway when it was raining heavily. (Wouldn't have felt good, if I had not helped them)
	() Thanks

25th June 2008, 17:54	#32
maddy42 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Coorg Posts: 2,131 Thanked: 1,328 Times View My Garage	Well i never give a lift to anyone unless back at home if the guys seem to have broken down their vehicle. One piece of advice for guys who stop if they see a girl " Dont do that as there were cases in bangalore where a girl is used as a easy way to make people stop to rob them"
	() Thanks

25th June 2008, 17:56	#33
hemanthisgreat BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 594 Thanked: 50 Times View My Garage	I have never given lifts to strangers on the street, nor do i intend to. Also i have not faced exceptional cases till date. O.T The guy getting the lift in the maruti ad is a friend's bro, who will also be appearing as a hero in a kannada movie shortly.
	() Thanks

25th June 2008, 20:55	#34
Spitfire BANNED Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Panaji - Goa/Bangalore - Karnataka Posts: 3,312 Thanked: 774 Times	I was on the other side last night. After some trouble broke out due to one of the Airport Cabs fatally knocking down someone, i was left stranded in god knows where after the cab driver took a diversion. He could not drive any further and had gone pale on hearing that cabs were being burnt. The control room could not help too. After a long time away from family didntwant to waste any time in getting home. Hopped on the road and started asking for a lift. A software engineer after dropping his parents was returning back, knew what was happening and promptly offered a lift. He dropped me right uptil my doorstep By the time i reached the Old airport road it was way past midnight. I was blessed. Dont expect such behaviour from anyone in Bangalore. This city still has some good folks around. We exchanged numbers and i will surely someday return his help. Last edited by Spitfire : 25th June 2008 at 20:56.
	() Thanks

26th June 2008, 10:49	#35
rjvora_2000 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Mumbai/Mulund Posts: 1,658 Thanked: 56 Times	we all say that we should not help but last year i had faced an accident on national highway mumbai gujarat in that case what to do? What i did was i had reported the accident to near police station with the help of local villager. and then from police station got the mobile no. of toing van and got my car towed from there to mumbai. i did not asked help from any of the car. but i asked the help from the villager, as i thought that they would be knowing the police station and other information.
	() Thanks

26th June 2008, 11:51	#36
bblost Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 11,008 Thanked: 15,366 Times View My Garage	Gave a lift to the Toll Booth Manager from Nellore till Koyambedu Bus Stop Chennai. Was a very interesting old man. But this was a one off chance. I however had a funny thing happen in Gooty when riding to Bangalore from Hyderabad. This guy tried to sit on my bike as I stopped at a traffic junction. Murmurring drop kardo please and some stuff llike that. He learnt a few new words hyderabadi style.
	() Thanks

26th June 2008, 12:29	#37
rmonie BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 231 Thanked: 60 Times View My Garage	Not normally. Had a bad experience once years ago where a girl asked me for a lift. Gave her a lift & she asked for a loan! doropped her quickly at the next light & took off! Learnt my lesson pretty quick.
	() Thanks

27th June 2008, 00:19	#38
carzy BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Mum Ca Mum Posts: 75 Thanked: 0 Times	No no no. Na munna na, you musn't talk to strangers or give them lifts even if they're scantily clad gals Watch 'The Hitcher' if you don't believe me. Once I'd taken a injured and stranded pup to the vet though
	() Thanks

27th June 2008, 00:50	#39
Saurabh M BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: CCU & Ontario Posts: 610 Thanked: 153 Times View My Garage	The only instance I have given lift to (a group of) strangers was in a very remote place in Ladakh. I was returning from Hunder to Leh and on the road, there were a groups of monks (mostly childern aged between 10-15) walking along the road. The place was extremely remote and the road was built on the river bed itself. The children were going from one monastery to another, quite far off. They asked for a lift, we picked them up, around 6 in number, and dropped them off to the place, from where they can again walk up to the monastery. It was a very nice experience, the children sang songs while they were travelling with us, shared their life experiences and thanked profusely as we dropped them and drove off. In general, on the highway, I would generally not give a lift to anyone.
	() Thanks

27th June 2008, 01:20	#40
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 11,005 Thanked: 26,445 Times	I quite often see guys apparently hitching on the OMR (Chennai) and getting on people's bikes. My wife says a driver can end up with no bike and no purse, after finding a knife at their throat. Is she exaggerating? I used to give lifts in UK, years back. Even to some very rough-looking characters. One homeless guy, obviously in need of a bath, trying to get to the next town to see if he find a bed in a hostel on a sub-zero C night. Decent enough guy, though, just fallen on hard times. Never asked for anything, other than the lift, but I gave him five pounds and a spare tin of tobacco. Only one real stunner of a girl, though --- and unfortunately, she didn't want to go very far with me
	() Thanks

27th June 2008, 01:40	#41
akshay4587 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chandigarh/Mohali/Ambala Cantt Posts: 4,151 Thanked: 4,525 Times View My Garage	A big NO not in city not on highways Never ask for a ride never give one I follow this rule for self
	() Thanks

27th June 2008, 09:52	#45
Bigzero BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 447 Thanked: 522 Times	Not on highways - but I have picked up strangers while on long drives, mostly in Kerala . Many of them were school kids waiting for buses to/from school, some of them were people at bus stops/junctions where i had stopped for directions .. I usually go by instinct ( dont know to what extent that may help ) - I have refused lifts on couple of occasions purely based on gut feel though. But definitely not on deserted stretches on highways etc.
	() Thanks