Driving Late at night w/ car problems

[MDMadrid]

This happened to me the other day and I thought I would post this to get your opinions:

I work the late shift at work so I come home around 12 or 1 am. AND I live in the country and so I take a lot of back roads to get home (not a lot of traffic). On my way home I was having some car problems and needed to pull off the side of the road. As I started to pull of the road the car behind me pulled off with me. Now the first thing that came to mind was the he will offer to help…but some other stuff came to mind too. Now as far as I know I have two options: 1. Stay in the car; 2. Get out of the car and meet him face to face.

My questions are as follows: 1st – What would you do? 2nd – Would you immediately tell him you don’t need help and ask him to leave or do you play it by ear?

 

[velobard]

Mostly I'd play it by ear, but my initial thought is to tell them I've got it covered and call AAA. That said, there have been plenty of times when I've stopped to help people, and a few times when I've been grateful for some help myself.

 

[Titan6]

The odds of someone behind you wanting to cause you problems are likely pretty low unless there is no coincidence. If there is casaul effect then there would likely be more than one of them and they would move fast to subdue you. Again such things happen but are quite rare.

 

[psyopspec]

I would play it by ear. I grew up in an area where stopping to help a stranded motorist, and having a motorist stop for you if you're the stranded one was completely commonplace. Unless you pick up on something that tingles your spider sense, odds are it's okay. It would be a hell of a thing for someone that meant you harm to follow you and have the good fortune of you having a breakdown. Again, I would caveat this as being dependent upon the area you're talking about.

 

[XLMiguel]

I have stopped to offer the use of my cell phone to people with car trouble (esp. woman w/kids), and I have called the state police (#77) on stranded motorists, but if I don't like their looks, I don't stop. Trust your gut. YMMV

 

[RioShooter]

You are armed, aren't you?

 

[coloradokevin]

I'd also play it by ear.

I've stopped to help people on country roads, and I've had people stop to help me in the past. Most people are good and decent folks, so it is probably a 99% chance that the person stopping is a good guy! Just don't let your guard down too easily, and I'm sure you'll be more than prepared to deal with a person with more malicious intentions.

Just some food for thought:

If you break down out in the country somewhere, and are worried about your safety while you wait for police/tow/family to arrive, consider leaving your car and walking off into the field/woods beside the road (when you can do so without being seen).

Remember, the bad guys you should be concerned with in this situation are not hiding in the woods at night, even if the forest does seem a bit spooky... the bad folks are out on the road looking for the stranded motorist in a car!

 

[poker88]

I agree with staying on guard and playing it by ear. The person is probably just trying to be helpful.

I think I would get out of the car and try to keep the car between me and this person until I could get a feel for the situation. I think that it would be easier to have a conversation outside of the car. Plus it would probably be easier to draw if that became necessary. Again, I would not expect that to become necessary in this situation.

 

[MDMadrid]

You are armed, aren't you?

If I am coming home from work then I am not armed. (can't have firearms on company property):banghead:

If I am just in town then...yes!

 

[brighamr]

What I would do (keep in mind i live in a rural area and know 80% of the people who live in my area).

Get out of the car, with my sidearm.
Stay by my vehicle and wait for them to approach.
Immediately ask them if they have a cell phone (cells don't work out here, but their answer will indicate if they want to help or if they're scoping you out)
Based on their reply, either ask them to leave or thank them for the use of their cell phone

 

[hecate]

Back when I drove a 15yo Cavalier, I had AAA on speed dial. As a 5'4" female, I pull off the road with windows up and doors locked, turn on the emergency flashers as long as the electrical system is still working, and call the motor club. Cell phone and weapon are handy but out of plain view.

I don't roll down the window or open the door for anybody except a uniformed LEO with a marked car or the wrecker driver. It's not like there's much you can do with your bare hands on a contemporary vehicle by the side of the road in the dark.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

Not too many years ago, my cousin stopped to change his flat tire on an off ramp of an interstate in very rural Georgia.
Someone stopped to help him, but wound up beating him so badly with his bumper jack that he languished in a coma for a couple of years, then finally gained conciousness only to have limited use of his body and speech - not to mention mental faculties.

They never caught the guy or gal who did it, and my cousin doesn't remember much of it, if any.

Be aware of what's going on. Keep your eyes peeled and watch the people who drive by or stop. You never know when you'll run into a serial killer or sadist or just a good old fashioned psychopath or sociopath.

 

[mortpes]

Lock up the car. Leave the flashers on. Leave the car. Use your feet. Move to the next phone, etc. I carry an emergency supply of water and food in the car for just such a long walk.

 

[Exmasonite]

in that situation (disabled vehicle without my firearm... i tell them that i need no assistance yet they approach anyway)

i'd probably exit the vehicle if there were cover nearby. aside from that, depends on how many people exit the car behind me. 2 things i'd want to consider/use to my advantage:

1) a BRIGHT flashlight... surefire A2 in my case. use it to give myself a temporary advantage/disorient person if they get too close. either use it to put distance b/w myself and them or to attack w/ knife (unlikely... only if they'd already been threatening)

2) pepper spray. short of a firearm, much better tool than a knife for disabling multiple attackers at range.

beyond that, just hope i laced my running shoes tight that night.

 

[ridata]

As I started to pull of the road the car behind me pulled off with me.

How would the car behind you know you are having car problems, or anything that he would stop for, if he is literally following you off the road? Without your hazard lights on I no reason for someone to follow you off the road, and with them on I see little reason.

 

[jdorian]

I carry a large maglite just in case, its a good flashlight, and while not the brightest or lightest, it can often be used for things other than a flashlight.

 

[B.D. Turner]

If the guy gets out with a chainsaw....RUN!!!

 

[Cyclimus]

Well, I'm 6'5" and physically fit so if all else fails, I can run a pretty good distance. But I think the fundamental question I have for all y'all is does no one own a cell phone?

As for me, it was said earlier, but I'd get out, assess my car from a safe position (that would be off to the grass side of things). If someone were to pull up, I'd take a partial cover position using my car so I could ascertain their rationale for stopping. Most people around here are helpful but there are some bad apples.

And to give you folks a nice image, I had my serpentine rupture and come apart at 3:30 am a few years ago. It took the last bit of strength I had to overcome my 1978 Impala's weight to get her into the turning lane (no shoulder, and too far from any parking lots to have a chance to coast safely). In the 45 minutes it took me to lash a makeshift serpentine into place, not one car passed me, nor did one police officer - and this is a typically busy road in a shopping district. And my cell phone had died batterywise earlier in the night, so I have faced this scenario. I do not recommend ever crawling underneath your car while its still on the road. (Yes, I deployed every flare I had that night).

 

[B.D. Turner]

I do not like to travel anywhere without a firearm. Cell phones are cheap and even one that does not have a service plan will dial 911. Our world is changing if we know it or not. Keeping your car in top working condition is a good idea too. If my job didn't allow for carry of a firearm there are other options, pepper spray or taser could be used. I would go for the big industral size OC spray.

Something to beware of is the local stop and rob's is the hang out of thugs looking to rob and steal. Most late night attacks occur at convenience stores and waffle houses. Just because you make it to the 7-11 does not mean you are safe.

 

[MDMadrid]

How would the car behind you know you are having car problems

I did put on my hazards lights as I was coasting off of the road. I also always carry my cell phone, but coming home from work I do not have my firearm. I guess my main goal would be to get out and be ready to run or at least be in a better position to fight back should the need arise...the thought of getting caught in the car scares me.

 

[Jst1mr]

I'd sure hate to consider the possibility that you have an off-duty LEO approaching your car who didn't hear what you said until you sprang out the door with a flashlight or other metallic object in hand

 

[Wire]

Many years ago I was sitting outside of work, about midnight, waiting for a ride home. A car drifted into the parking lot, the driver got out, inspected his tires, then started replacing his flat with a spare. Bored, friendly, and willing to help, I walked over. But I didn't announce myself, and he nearly brained me with a tire tool. So be alert when offering to help, too.

 

[Dksimon]

i have never had car trouble (go honda!) accept being stuck but i live in SD so i always carry a shovel in the trunk.

If i see a stranded vehicle I dont stop after dark unless i am in a familliar area. I almost always call the sherrifs office to alert them that someone is having car trouble.

OTOH If the weather is bad i will usually stop.
A few years back i was on the way home from my girlfriends house and there was a car in the ditch flipped over during a blizzard so i stopped and helped the people get out. I felt pretty good about helping because they were already getting cold and there was a small baby in the car.

 

[tepin]

get out but keep the car between you and him. inside the car you have fewer options.

 

[SCKimberFan]

Your car is still your property. Why not keep the gun in your locked car, so you can get to it after work? Unless your company has a policy of searching employees cars you should be fine. I don't know of any companies that search your private property, without your consent and I would never give them the consent to search my vehicle.