Hitchhiking a risky business

Each year many thousands of women have the trip of their lives as they go travelling all over the world to places such as Australia, Thailand, Mexico and India. Some go alone, whilst others go in pairs and small groups but they all have one thing in common: a spirit of adventure and discovery.

Most of the female travellers are either in a gap year or have just finished university and have their hearts set on having a fantastic time seeing what the world has to offer. The vast majority realise this dream and come back having had a great few months experiencing food, culture and places weird and wonderful.

Unfortunately not all travellers have such a good time because there are a lot of things that can go wrong. Illness and property theft are two things that can ruin the travelling holiday of a lifetime and force an early return.

However, that is not all that can go wrong. Running out of money, getting lost and missing flights or long-distance buses integral to travel schedules are all really common situations that can lead to women taking up something that is potentially very dangerous: hitchhiking.

Hitchhiking advice from CoverGirl Car Insurance Services

In the 60s, hitchhiking was a really popular way to get around, both in the UK and abroad. The concept of serendipitous travel and the "free spirit" movement were driving forces in helping hitchhikers to become a common roadside sight. This is perfectly captured in the book "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac.

Many drivers were also quite open to the idea of picking up hitchhikers because of the hippy feel of the time and the fact that it was just so commonplace.

However, things have changed over the years and hitchhiking is not quite the same care-free way to get around as it used to be. These days, it is really risky for women to either give lifts to hitchhikers or to do any hitchhiking themselves, both in the UK and abroad.

Should I hitch?

There are a huge number of stories, both substantiated and not, which detail the horrors of things that have happened to women who have happened to hitch with the wrong person. These range from the most serious crimes, such as murders and rapes, to less serious ones such as theft.

Because it is impossible to know just who will stop for you, it is wise for women never to hitchhike. If you do happen to get in the car with someone who has less than good intentions, the driver will have total control over where they are taking you and there is little you can do about it.

As a woman getting into a stranger's car, you also won't know anything about their driving skill. As Anthony Stoner in Cheech and Chong's "Up in Smoke" found out, you may end up in trouble if the person you hitch with isn't fit to be behind the wheel.

In some countries it is an even worse idea to hitchhike because if the driver crashes and you are injured, you won't be covered by their car insurance.

Should I pick up a hitcher?

As a female driver, it is just as bad an idea to pick a hitchhiker up off the side of the road as it is to hitchhike yourself. Although being the person in control of the car gives you the choice of whether to pick someone up or not, as we all know it is impossible to judge by appearances - just think of what happened in the 80s film "The Hitcher".

Women motorists are much more likely to stop to pick up a female hitchhiker than a man but this still isn't a safe practice. It is possible for anyone to force you out of your own car and then drive off, leaving you stranded and in the unfortunate position of having to make a car insurance claim.

Even if someone looks like they have broken down and needs to hitch a lift to the nearest telephone, it is best for your safety not to stop. However, if their car is in a dangerous place and may cause an accident, it may be best to telephone the police for advice.

In foreign countries and especially when crossing borders, it is also worth thinking about what a hitchhiker might be carrying with them. If it is discovered that your passenger is trying to transport illegal goods, your car might well be confiscated and you will be left without transport.

*A replacement car can normally be arranged under one of the following conditions: (1) Comprehensive policyholders – a replacement car may be available under the terms of your insurance policy. Please check your policy details for more information. (2) Non fault accident – where we have the name, car registration number and insurance details of the person who caused the accident, we can supply a replacement car. This is done on a credit hire basis which means the costs for this service will be passed onto the insurance company of the person who caused the accident. We may not be able to arrange a replacement car where we are unable to get an admission of liability from their insurance company, or where the driver is untraceable or uninsured. (3) Repair garage – if your car is booked in for repairs following an accident, the repair garage may be able to provide a replacement car (subject to availability).