Hitch-Hiking Hits The Road?
by Patricia Montgomery, LincsMag Writer.
Date: 12 August 2011
A recent AA/Populus poll of 16,850 drivers shows that the majority of drivers will not stop for a hitch-hiker with 91% of drivers showing they are unlikely to stop to give a hitch-hiker a lift.
The AA questions whether hitch-hiking has reached the end of the road in the UK as the number of drivers unlikely to stop has increased from 75% to 91% in the last two years.
Only 1% of drivers have hitch-hiked themselves in the last year and only 1% of drivers are very likely to stop to give hitch-hikers a ride, which is understandable in these violent times.
6% were quite likely to stop with males four times more likely to stop (8%) than females (2%). Older drivers were also much more likely to stop than younger drivers.
Three fifths (61%) have never hitch-hiked, including 75% of females, and whilst a third (35%) say they have hitched, they haven't done so in the last ten years.
Never hitch-hiked?
The younger generation in this poll have never embraced hitch-hiking with 93% of 18-24 year olds and 88% of 25-34 year olds never (sensibly in my opinion) having tried it, compared to 48% of 55-66 year olds and 52% of over 65s. Women are much more likely to have never hitch-hiked (75% female v 54% male), but this will be most likely due to very sound safety issues.
Drivers living in Yorkshire and Humberside are least likely to have hitch-hiked (67% never), closely followed by the North West and East Midlands (66% never). Fewer drivers in Northern Ireland have never hitch-hiked (48%).
Hitch-hikers in East Anglia and the North West are likely to be in for the longest wait at the roadside whereas those in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland probably stand a better chance of getting a lift. It appears that those living outside mainland England have a more 'Celtic friendly' attitude towards hitch-hikers perhaps as a result of less public transport in remote areas.
Would you stop?
If you saw someone hitch-hiking at the roadside, how likely would you be to stop and give them a lift?
Wales – 12% (very or quite likely to stop)
Northern Ireland – 11%
Scotland – 10%
South West – 9%
North East – 8%
West Midlands – 7%
South – 7%
Yorkshire/Humberside – 6%
East Midlands – 6%
London – 6%
North West – 5%
East Anglia – 5%
The apparent lack of goodwill towards hitch-hikers contrasts sharply with goodwill towards fellow motorists who have broken down. 61% of drivers would stop to help a motorist but only if comfortable that it was safe and that they could help (65% male, 55% female).
Personal safety
The AA claims that Hitch-hiking is the cheapest form of transport and the 'greenest' form of road transport but sensible precautions should be taken and in my opinion women should avoid if possible. Hitch-hike in pairs and tell a friend or relative of your route. Harness technology to stay safe too - when you get into a car, announce that you're "just going to text the car details to my partner" or whoever.
Best ride
Aston Martin convertible
Worst ride
Fish van, killer dogs, and psycho driver
