Hitchhikers Swap Their Thumb On The Road For A Mouse On The Super Highway

June 16, 2009 - PRLog -- Three times more men than women would stop for a hitchhiker. Almost one quarter of men (23%) said they would offer a lift but only 7% of women. The likelihood of a panellist stopping to offer a lift increased with age:

One in ten 18-24 yr olds (9%) and 25- 35 yr olds (11%) would stop
One in five from the 45-65 plus age group would stop (21%).

The British hitchhiker may have a long wait should the credit crunch and ‘staycationing’ in the UK increase people trying old fashioned hitch hiking as a means of getting around.  Those planning a hitching trip in the UK have the best chance of getting a ride in Scotland (21%), the south west (21%) and Wales (20%) and the places where you are most likely to be left out in the cold are the north west and north east (14%).  

Commenting, Edmund King, AA president and former hitchhiker said; “It is no great surprise that with concerns about personal safety drummed into us, most people are reluctant to stop for hitchhikers. However, some who may be old enough to remember when hitching was more common practice, will have enjoyed the egalitarian pleasure of helping a fellow traveller.

“We can muse…Where have all the hitchers gone long time passing ……they are all registering with lift share schemes - saves waiting in the lay -by in the rain. Hitchhikers seem to have swapped their thumb on the real highway for a mouse on the super highway. But it is pleasing to see that there is still a core of trusty drivers who say they would pick a hitchhiker perhaps to re-live the good old days.

The AA who has provided road http://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/index.jsp breakdown cover  for over 100 years has found that  “The rising fuel price has already affected 55% of drivers who are cutting back on journeys, cutting back on other expenditure or cutting back on both, according to an AA/Populus poll of almost 15,000 drivers. On National Liftshare Day the AA is advising drivers to consider cutting costs by increasing car sharing. It is better for your pocket, better for the environment, better for congestion and indeed better for conversation."

•       Hitchhiking – often overlooked but it’s the cheapest form of transport and the ‘greenest’ form of road transport. Sensible precautions should be taken, though, like hitching in pairs and informing a friend or relative of your route. And harness technology to stay safe – when you get into a car, announce “I’m just going to text the registration number to my partner” or whoever.

•       Liftsharing – the modern hitch-hiking where lifts are sorted on-line rather than in the rain.

“I’ve been hitching for the past 40 years, minimising my carbon footprint, saving cash and meeting thousands of kind, interesting motorists,” says travel writer and broadcaster Simon Calder. “It’s a concept that should be back in fashion - and out on the road lifts seem to be getting easier. Or maybe that’s because I no longer wear a Belgian Army greatcoat, long hair and a half-smoked roll-up on my bottom lip.”

Hitching fact file
Best novels        “On the road” - Jack Kerouac    “Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy”- Douglas Adams
Best songs   “America” by Simon and Garfunkel  “Hitch hike” by Marvin Gaye
Best trick    Attractive girl hitches whilst big boyfriend hides
Best ride   Aston Martin convertible
Worst ride   Fish van, killer dogs, and psycho driver

Ends

Online AA / Populus survey 1-8 May 2009, 14,743 responses.

Looking after the interests of its members as motorists has been at the heart of the AA since it was founded in 1905. In addition The AA provides other services like car insurance http://www.theaa.com/insurance/car-insurance.jsp and contents insurance http://www.theaa.com/insurance/home-contents-insurance.html .

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Road pricing. Road emissions. Road congestion. Road rage. Road safety

These are just some of the issues that we must face up to as motorists. The AA and AA President, Edmund King, are keen to hear what you think so we are working with leading market research company Populus to get your views. Our aim is to build up the biggest Motoring panel in the UK to help us understand your thoughts on key transport issues