Offering assistance
 

Been following a thread elsewhere on the subject of roadside assistance,

in the event a car your following veered off into the ditch, what response have you got in stopping, (which I think many people would)

A guy pulled over to offer sympathy and a tow to a female, only to be faced with "I'm not in the mood for this" and something approaching righteous feminism for his trouble,


he got back in his car and drove off unsuprisingly, and many responses to thread suggested
if not hostility to a seemingly helpful offer, but a blatant backing away of the recipent for fear of attack,


any experiences guys?

There was one fella that stopped to help some people broken down on the Trans Canada east of Calgary.
He was assaulted and his car was stolen....

Depending on the weather, I would use the cell phone and notify the policing agency responsible for that section of the highway. If it was killer cold weather I would probably stop.

I was traveling from Vancouver to Kelowna over the pass on the 97C, when I watched the guy who just passed me spin into the ditch on the black ice that suddenly appeared at the top of the pass.
I did stop to see if he was OK and there were three other cars and pickups in the ditch. When someone almost took out my rental car on the shoulder, I asked if everyone was OK and if they had called for help. Then I got the heck out of there.

The safety of you and your family comes first..

I've only needed to sit with a stranded driver once. It was an older gal who ran out of gas. She had already called a relative so I just had her sit in my car to keep warm.

With everyone having phones it probably isn't necessary to stay with someone unless imminent danger is present.

I would change my plan based on the scenario, of course.

I would call 911 and describe the car, occupant(s), location and license plate # before I even unlocked my own door to say nothing about getting out of my own car.

I've stopped so many times I can't keep count. But this is the Midwest ..... Minnesota Nice and all. I've never worried about the person, just getting hit on the side of the road.

1) If you stop, don your gloves, exit your vehicle and announce your intention to render aid.
2) Since the person ran off into the ditch, he is likely out of his mind on meth and will be looking for an easy mark to rob. Draw your Glock and approach with a defensive mindset.
3) As you near the vehicle, again announce your intention to render aid.
►If the occupant is cooperative, render aid.
►If there is no reply, the occupant is dead so just return to your car and call 911.
►If the occupant makes any sudden moves, use your firearm to render the situation safe. Then place the appropriate drop gun in the driver compartment after ensuring that the occupant's fingerprints are on the drop gun. Finally, call 911 and inform the dispatcher that the occupant pulled a gun on you and you acted in self defense. Lie your Glock on the ground and await LE to arrive.

Have stopped 2x in the past year. Once to try to assist a demented old man wandering down the interstate (he declined my help but couldn't decline the HP officer) and once at 8pm on a dark highway for a car vs deer. The deer hunter was much more concerned that her boyfriend get out there and get the deer she had just plugged (presumably before I or someone else did) than the issue of her just wrecking a car she did not own or her friend waiting at the Minneapolis airport 3+ hours away. Cue the dualing banjos.

I wasn't too worried about the old man but retrospectively wondered a bit about the second situation. I don't own a pistol but have thought about obtaining one.

A friend of mine stopped late one night on a dark country highway to see if he could help a couple standing in front of their van with its hood up. They were very greatful.

He got a flashlight from his car and while he was looking under the hood, one of them shot him three times, in the back, shoulder and head, then drove off in their van and his old Mercedes, leaving him for dead.

A motorist picked him up after what he thinks was half an hour and took him to a hospital. He recovered fully, they never found the perps and his car was recovered six months later, abandoned on a side street in Oceanside, CA, about forty miles from where he was shot.

I've stopped on several occasions over the years, prior to that. Now I'll make a phone call, but I won't stop.

Even if you had not put SC as your location this tells it right there.

If you stop, don your gloves, exit your vehicle and announce your intention to render aid.

CF you are tonight survivalist geek,

this is not gentle mockery BTW, I always carry a fluorescent tabard
which I think lends me an air of both dependence and authoriteh,

I also carry a field flaying kit for those small opportunities

Must suck to live somewhere where you have to behave like that.

Same thing here in Nova Scotia. If I see you in the ditch, side of the road, middle of the road, I'll make the call and stop to help. Maybe even administer first aid and take you to the hospital. (And once, got a kid with a head wound to wash his face at the hospital before his Mom got there and saw him looking like that.)

I figure if I was in trouble, I'd like for someone to stop to help.
How about you?
Les

I'd stop. Especially if it was an interesting old car :)

True story -- I was travelling on a divided highway and passed an older 911 on the other side of the highway that was in obvious distress. I exited at the next interchange (2 km or so) and headed back. By the time I arrived, there was also an MGB, an Alfa Romeo Spider, and an E30 BMW all pulled over with their drivers offering assistance. None of us knew one another.

I usually call 911 and keep driving. I'd be torn if it were a situation where someone were obviously either injured or in peril - on the one hand I want to assist by nature but I know better ("no good deed goes unpunished") and don't want to end up being sued or whatever for trying to do the right thing. I don't trust so-called "Good Samaritan" laws to protect me either.

If I recall correctly, in Germany it is the law that you have to stop and render aid. You are even required to carry a first aid kit and warning triangle in your car. In most places here, I always see lots of people stop. But I agree- first thing call 911. By the way, one of the most dangerous things you can do is stand along the side of the highway- particularly in bad weather, so be alert, and get everyone on the far side of a guard rail if applicable. I had a friend involved in an accident on an icy road. Another car saw the accident, lost control, hit his car which then hit him and threw him 50 feet onto his head, killing him instantly. Definately dangerous along a highway--more from the cars, and less from the occasional psychos.

YouTube - Spastic Classic: The 911 Deer Call (I Need a Bambulance)

I just did it last week for a couple with a blown tire on the highway. Turned around at the next interchange, stopped and helped. Nice people.

Joe A

I've stopped and helped on several occasions, but I've directed my wife not to stop, ever, but rather call in the location and description of vehicle and circumstances. She's to trusting and living here in SoCal that can get you killed, sad but true...

Yes, I stop.