Hitchhiking

Hitching was my only form of transport back in the late 70s/80s. Most of the time it was fine but I had several scares and one very scary scare.

I used to swear that I would pick up people when it came to my turn to own a car and drive but I don't. Too many people looking for a claim in the 80s made me wary and now I generally have a child or four in the car and wouldn't put them at risk, even a 1 in 1,000,000 risk.

I have a friend whose 24 year old daughter was driving home, from a night out, with her best friend in the passenger seat. No drink involved. She skidded and hit the ditch. Both of them were fine, no damage done except to the car. However, it was the end of a close friendship that dated from their first day of school because the best friend claimed.

One of my friends and I hitchhiked once when we were about 16. We were shopping and missed the last bus home. The guy who stopped was an ex-army guy and he lectured us all the way home about never doing it again as we could have been killed.

I never did it again, so embarrassed

My sister used to hitchhike when she was a teenager. She has some great stories about it too. But with abductions and stuff these days I wouldn't chance it, you even have to be weary of taxi drivers!! I know abduction was still a problem like 20 years ago but it didn't stop my sister doing it!

As for me, my mother is well versed in the "don't talk to strange men ever, they will take you away in the black car." She still even says it to me before I go on a night out even though my dad collects me from a night out at home!