I was going between fields cutting hay this afternoon and noticed a couple looking under the hood of their later model half ton truck. Means no one else bothered to see if they needed anything i stopped in case they were tourists in need of the number of a local mechanic or tow truck. They looked in their early 30's,the man had a thick French accent and kept asking if I was a mechanic. I said no but do you need anything? He kept going on about a sputter sputter sound than the woman interrupted saying with quite a bit of attitude,"my dads on his way,we thought you might know something but thanks anyway" I guess with everyone having smart phones unless you actually know the person stranded on the side of the road it might not make you feel good for offering a stranger help lol
- Thread starter Philip d
- Start date
Billy Shafer
Well-known Member
I had something like that. Happen on the way to Fort Hood for summer camp. I was driving a fuel truck. 1200 gallons of gas on board. Found a truck out of gas. Stopped to offer help. Was told they didn't want cheap Army gas in the truck. So I said good luck and started to drive off. Called the driver over showed him the paper work from Exon. Where I picked up my load. He had the deer in the head light look as I drove off.
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
I think people are really scared of who might stop, if the person is truly trying to help or they have bad intentions. The person is probably already stressed, add the fear factor, and they can become defensive and not even realize it.
And very few people will offer to help. A friend recently called me, broke down. I went to try to get him going.
Car would not start, just spin over. I didn't have the means to diagnose it, so he called for a tow truck. So we waited, blocking a lane of traffic at a very busy intersection, too much traffic to risk trying to hand push it. Thousands of cars went by, most highly annoyed, horn blowing, finger flipping... Only one offered a jump. Thanked him and explained a jump wouldn't get it going.
Even the tow truck driver was grumbling about the stupid, rude drivers that would not let him get in position to load the car!
And very few people will offer to help. A friend recently called me, broke down. I went to try to get him going.
Car would not start, just spin over. I didn't have the means to diagnose it, so he called for a tow truck. So we waited, blocking a lane of traffic at a very busy intersection, too much traffic to risk trying to hand push it. Thousands of cars went by, most highly annoyed, horn blowing, finger flipping... Only one offered a jump. Thanked him and explained a jump wouldn't get it going.
Even the tow truck driver was grumbling about the stupid, rude drivers that would not let him get in position to load the car!
kcm.MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- NW Minnesota
It sometimes gets that way in our little corner of nowhere as well. Can't even begin to imagine how bad it has gotten in more built-up areas!!
Moonlite37
Well-known Member
My nephew saw an older man with a flat and it appeared the old man did not know or was unable to change the tire. My nephew took off the wheel with the flat tire and when he went to put the spare on, the spare had the wrong hole pattern, My nephew took the spare and the flat tire to his farm shop and mounted the spare tire on the wheel that had the flat tire. Somehow my nephew had trouble getting the wheel cover on and bent it. The old man raised a fuss about the dented wheel cover so my nephew charged the old man $25 and said,"let's just call it even", and the old man still complained thought he was cheated.
pete black
Well-known Member
I slow down and survey the stituation from a distance before i commit to help. I am inclined to believe everyone has a cell phone in which to seek help.
tractorguy2
Well-known Member
Not everyone has a cell phone. I don't and neither does my 78 year old father. Don't need anymore monthly bills.
showcrop
Well-known Member
I got an earful once from a fellow tractor puller because I didn't stop to offer him help. He was pulled over not to far from where the pull was held, and from the back his truck and trailer and tractors looked like that of another puller that lived right nearby. Since I had over a hundred miles to go I didn't slow down. I found out later that it was a different guy who had probably 70 miles to go. Next time I saw him he told me that I should have known his truck and trailer. A few minutes after that another puller was asking me what I had for a truck. I didn't tell him that he was supposed to know.
coonie minnie
Well-known Member
Be glad you weren't the one riding with her in the truck!!!
TGP
Member
I rarely stop unless I recognize the vehicle or people.
Too many unknowns now a days.
Case in point
Last week a couple stopped to help someone on I-55
In St Louis County.
Got car jacked. They were unharmed.
Perp sped away MHP in pursuit, resulting in shoot out.
Suspect shot dead, Interstate closed for 12 hours while they
Investigate.
Crazy
Tom
Too many unknowns now a days.
Case in point
Last week a couple stopped to help someone on I-55
In St Louis County.
Got car jacked. They were unharmed.
Perp sped away MHP in pursuit, resulting in shoot out.
Suspect shot dead, Interstate closed for 12 hours while they
Investigate.
Crazy
Tom
PaGlenn
Well-known Member
- Location
- New Milford Penna
I don't help anyone. I have triple AAA to get me off the road. Too much uncertainty. Could me good folks or someone running from the law.
cole in mo.
Well-known Member
Heading home last Tuesday about noon on a 70mph 4 lane hi way, almost to the top of a hill was a stock trailer still 3/4's in the left hand lane. No shoulder, pick up pulling it almost as far in the road, I pulled past and backed up. Older guy and his wife had the hood up, he said it just quit, I was in my ford ranger, told him I had a chain and could move him someplace safer. He slammed the hood and said lets go, I pulled him about a mile to a blacktop, got him plenty out of the way. He asked what he owed me, I said not a thing guy, just glad I could get you out of there, traffic was heavy that day for some reason.
kcm.MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- NW Minnesota
If either or both of you live in an area that has cell reception, you can keep a cell phone on you (somebody's old one even?) for dialing 911. That number will ALWAYS go through, providing there is a signal. That said, you "may" be billed for the call, and that billing would most likely be at a highly elevated rate. ...On the other hand, what kind of price can you put on an emergency?
kcm.MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- NW Minnesota
As someone else said, I will always survey the situation before stopping. At the VERY least, if it looks like they're pretty well stranded and don't seem to have any communications, I'll call in and request an officer to swing by.
oliver power
Member
I use to stop to help all the time. Quite often I'd pick up hitch hikers. That is until; 2 girls were hitch hiking. A young man stopped to give them a ride. About that time, the boyfriend comes out from the brush, shoots the young man in the head, and they steal his car. That's when I stopped helping strangers.
Stephen Newell
Well-known Member
I stopped to help someone last weekend. The engine was making some kind of scratching noise and they stopped because of the noise. Then they didn't have cell service to get help so I lend them my phone for them to call their dad. Dad recommends they drive the car 10 miles into town where he's going to meet them so off they went. The engine sounded bad enough to me I was recommending a wrecker.
About 5 yrs ago my granddaughter (18) and I drove from Il. To anchorage Alaska.and back. We decided to never drive past someone stopped and needing help. We had a blast! Took a motorcycle guy almost 200 miles to a hospital. He couldn't speak or hear. Another guy gave me a big ole switch blade for 5 gallons of gas. You guys are missing a big part of life. The ones that don't stop to help.
showcrop
Well-known Member
How can you possibly survey and assess whether or not they have a phone without stopping? Do you really think that how they dress or how they comb their hair is going to tell you what intent they may have? Do you wear a seat belt even though there is a one in million chance that you could run off the road into water and not be able to unfasten it?
kcm.MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- NW Minnesota
Sometimes they make it easy....like when they're holding their cell phone up in the air at arms length and walking around in circles not paying attention to where they're going......then I have to assume they don't have communications. :wink:
Like everything else in life, it's all about these instantaneous choices we make, even when we don't realize were making a choice at all. For some, it comes from a little voice inside. For others, it's something in their gut. ...For me, that's what I call "Bad Gas"! :shock: :lol:
Like everything else in life, it's all about these instantaneous choices we make, even when we don't realize were making a choice at all. For some, it comes from a little voice inside. For others, it's something in their gut. ...For me, that's what I call "Bad Gas"! :shock: :lol:
It would have been gracious of her to thank you in a nicer manner.
I used to work for IDOT. They wanted us to check on motorists that appeared to be having trouble. I have lots of stories - some strange, but all good.
The oddest situation for me was one nice Sunday afternoon when my wife and I were out for a motorcycle ride. A car with out of state plates was on the side of the road in our rural neighborhood. As we rode by, we noticed a lady sitting in the car. We u-turned and rode back to see if she needed help. As we rolled up, she was franticly spooling up the windows and locking the doors, then she hopped to the passenger seat of the car, clearly afraid of us. I guess she thought we were members of the heck's angels. And we were even riding a Honda. That was back when the ads were saying, "You meet the nicest people on a Honda". We rode on and left her alone.
I used to work for IDOT. They wanted us to check on motorists that appeared to be having trouble. I have lots of stories - some strange, but all good.
The oddest situation for me was one nice Sunday afternoon when my wife and I were out for a motorcycle ride. A car with out of state plates was on the side of the road in our rural neighborhood. As we rode by, we noticed a lady sitting in the car. We u-turned and rode back to see if she needed help. As we rolled up, she was franticly spooling up the windows and locking the doors, then she hopped to the passenger seat of the car, clearly afraid of us. I guess she thought we were members of the heck's angels. And we were even riding a Honda. That was back when the ads were saying, "You meet the nicest people on a Honda". We rode on and left her alone.
Thank you for stopping and offering your help!!!!! That was very generous of you.
Fortunately the people already had the situation under their control and they didn't need your help. You may not have been the first person to stop and offer to help. Keep in mind that they were already upset and angry that their plans had changed and they did not want their car dittled with by someone who was not a "Mechanic". Would you want just anyone to start messing with your tractors or combine? After an offer to help is declined the second time, it's time to move on.
You did the right thing by stopping and offering your help, but you should not be offended if it was not needed and was not accepted.
Thank you again for stopping!!!!
Fortunately the people already had the situation under their control and they didn't need your help. You may not have been the first person to stop and offer to help. Keep in mind that they were already upset and angry that their plans had changed and they did not want their car dittled with by someone who was not a "Mechanic". Would you want just anyone to start messing with your tractors or combine? After an offer to help is declined the second time, it's time to move on.
You did the right thing by stopping and offering your help, but you should not be offended if it was not needed and was not accepted.
Thank you again for stopping!!!!
dr sportster
Well-known Member
Blood all over the upholstery !
dr sportster
Well-known Member
Monsieur if you are not zee mechanic please step away from my voiture !
85burbanator
Member
Happened to me over last winter, we got about 8-10" of snow in a short time. Headed home from work and noticed a late 90's early 2000s caravan with the flashers on. Snow was still falling at a rapid pace, it was dark and viability sucked and her flashers were dim. Ask if she was ok and she said her van just died and stopped where she was.
Grab a flashlight from the work truck and have her pop the hood. Find the serpentine belt off but in good shape, all pulleys ok. A bunch of snow packed in the belt area like she hit a snow bank or something. She tells me I won't be able to fix it and that she has someone coming from a town about an hour away on a nice day. My ratchet didn't fit into the tensioner from the top so I used a long bar and flathead screw driver from the bottom. 5 minutes and a jump start and she was on her way. Funny how some folks just assume others don't know anything and try to be all high and mighty about their friend/family member coming to their rescue. The whole time she was on the phone with her rescuers doubting my abilities. Thought about leaving but there would have been an accident for sure, my truck almost got hit even with the hazards and lights on. I didn't see her until I was within 50 feet
Grab a flashlight from the work truck and have her pop the hood. Find the serpentine belt off but in good shape, all pulleys ok. A bunch of snow packed in the belt area like she hit a snow bank or something. She tells me I won't be able to fix it and that she has someone coming from a town about an hour away on a nice day. My ratchet didn't fit into the tensioner from the top so I used a long bar and flathead screw driver from the bottom. 5 minutes and a jump start and she was on her way. Funny how some folks just assume others don't know anything and try to be all high and mighty about their friend/family member coming to their rescue. The whole time she was on the phone with her rescuers doubting my abilities. Thought about leaving but there would have been an accident for sure, my truck almost got hit even with the hazards and lights on. I didn't see her until I was within 50 feet
farmallsandcoops
Member
Saw 2 women and three little kids standing by the side of the road years ago looking at their flat tire. I turned around and pulled up behind them and asked if I could help. They said yes. I changed their tire and happened to have a car that the tire iron and jack matched cause there wasn't one in their car or it was buried. They thanked me over and over. I told them no money, just tell your husbands the next time they see someone stranded by the road to stop and help.
I stopped and helped and had it go both ways.....
Stopped to help a guy on the interstate. He said he thought a jump would get the car going. I said I could do that, but I would need to turn around so my cables would reach. (There was what looked like a driveway, it wasn't, but it was flat enough and large enough I could turn around without being in traffic at all.) He said, "OK, I'll stop traffic!". I laughed. Thought he was joking. Nope. He walked out in the middle of the highway and started waving his hands! Cars were going around him at 70+ MPH. It's a wonder someone wasn't killed. He was taking a leak by the back of his car when the county sheriff pulled up. I was never so glad to see a LEO.
On the other hand, I passed an elderly couple with a flat tire. I mean elderly and it was very hot. He had his walker around to the back of the car and was giving her directions on how to get the spare out of the trunk. They let me change the tire. After I was done we talked for a minute and discovered we were teachers from the same part of the state (although obviously from different decades). His wife asked me for my address and sent me a McDonald's gift card in the mail.
Then my wife had a flat on the interstate. Yes, she can change her own tire, but I was only 10 minutes away so she called me to help. She had several stop and offer to help her, but told them I was on the way. Should she have trusted a stranger? She probably could have, but I'm glad she didn't.
Stopped to help a guy on the interstate. He said he thought a jump would get the car going. I said I could do that, but I would need to turn around so my cables would reach. (There was what looked like a driveway, it wasn't, but it was flat enough and large enough I could turn around without being in traffic at all.) He said, "OK, I'll stop traffic!". I laughed. Thought he was joking. Nope. He walked out in the middle of the highway and started waving his hands! Cars were going around him at 70+ MPH. It's a wonder someone wasn't killed. He was taking a leak by the back of his car when the county sheriff pulled up. I was never so glad to see a LEO.
On the other hand, I passed an elderly couple with a flat tire. I mean elderly and it was very hot. He had his walker around to the back of the car and was giving her directions on how to get the spare out of the trunk. They let me change the tire. After I was done we talked for a minute and discovered we were teachers from the same part of the state (although obviously from different decades). His wife asked me for my address and sent me a McDonald's gift card in the mail.
Then my wife had a flat on the interstate. Yes, she can change her own tire, but I was only 10 minutes away so she called me to help. She had several stop and offer to help her, but told them I was on the way. Should she have trusted a stranger? She probably could have, but I'm glad she didn't.
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