TexasCHLforum.com

Prior to getting my CHL and carrying, I found myself growing ever skeptical about stopping to help stranded motorists due to a lack of personal safety. You just never know if the "distressed" motorist is baiting an innocent victim or really in need.

The past couple of weeks, I've really started thinking twice about stopping to help since I'm better prepared to defend myself. Somehow, it feels like "fishing" to change my habits of the past 10 years, but somehow, it doesn't feel right to drive by and let them sit on the side of the road either. I know every situation is different and you really can't judge a book by it's cover. I'm just wondering if anyone else has been through this transformation and how it has changed you and how you treat these situations?

I still leave them sitting on the side of the road, not that I'm a jerk just that I really don't have the time nor the desire to do that stuff. I have been a Paramedic for over 20 years and just don't care to be stopping all over the place and doing the good samaritan stuff, if its an accident then all I do is call emergency services on the phone.

My belt broke on my truck on 190 in east Texas. I had three people stop and ask
me if I needed any help. I had a spare in the toolbox.Kind of cool.I know that wouldn't happen in Houston. LOL
Gotta love those piney woods folk

Depends on when, where, who, and whether or not I am alone.

JP171 wrote:I still leave them sitting on the side of the road, not that I'm a jerk just that I really don't have the time nor the desire to do that stuff. I have been a Paramedic for over 20 years and just don't care to be stopping all over the place and doing the good samaritan stuff, if its an accident then all I do is call emergency services on the phone.

One word: Karma

For me it depends... I've stopped and given people water and/or rides, I've driven by without so much as a second thought, and I've driven by after deciding something didn't feel right. I'm sure I've even passed a few by without even noticing them.

Coincidentally, I haven't stopped for anyone I didn't know since getting my CHL last September. That has not been a conscious decision on my part, it's just how things have worked out.

It's situationally dependent. In west Texas 50 miles from the nearest town? I'll probably stop.
In town with a 7-11 five blocks away. No way, not stopping.

I have been taken advantage of too many times in the past by folks who;
1. Don't maintain their vehicles and don't care,
2. Don't care to learn how to change a tire.
3. Don't want to pay for a tow.

With almost universal cell phone usage these days, unless it's a possible life or death situation I don't get involved. I will make an exception for elderly drivers.

Gringop

I agree about the cell phones...I teach in a Title 1 intermediate school (3-4-5) and over half of the kids in my class have working cell phones. Most people who can afford to drive, at the very minimum, have a no-contract phone for emergencies. I think the "case by case basis" is probably the best policy.

A buddy of mine was being a good person and offered to give a girl he saw walking down the freeway in the middle of the night a ride home since he lived in the same area. He was then pulled over because a passerby said he forced her into the car. After the cops spoke with the girl, the cops determined he wasnt trying to hurt her and instead was trying to help as he stated. The officer told him he made a bad decision by trying to be a nice person. She could have been setting him up, had a gun on her, etc. To say the least, the cop set him straight and im glad he did. God knows what could have happened to my buddy just trying to be a good samaritan.

I hope if I'm out of town and my pregnant wife gets a flat on the van in 100+ degree heat with three kids in carseats, that one of the "good guys" stops to lend a hand.

Yes, she can change a tire, but at 7 months pregnant, 8-lugs and a jack is a lot to manage.
Yes, she has a mobile phone, but what if it malfunctioned, or couldn't get signal?
Yes, she has emergency roadside service and plenty of friends and family in the area, but what if they're 30-45 minutes out?
Yes, she has her CHL and carries as close to 24/7 as possible.

. . . just something to think about. We're in the suburbs and she'd never be in a sketchy area - especially at night - by herself. . . so my scenario is more of a "breakdown on the freeway, six-lane road, or grocery store parking lot within 10 miles of home before the sun goes down" example.

Situation by situation is the right call on this topic, in my opinion. Don't be afraid to stop and lend a hand to a neighbor. The last three times I've needed either a push or found myself changing a tire, it was a young male who didn't speak English who stopped to offer help each time.

If something doesn't seem right or you're not in a spot to help, then by all means - call for help as you drive by.

I will and haved stopped for elderly folks, young hot women, and also to help move disabled cars.

I ALWAYS help people trying to push a car, there is nothing like the stress of trying to push a car while others are honking at you to move, as if you are standing outside of your car just to get on their nerves.

GlockFan wrote:My belt broke on my truck on 190 in east Texas. I had three people stop and ask
me if I needed any help. I had a spare in the toolbox.Kind of cool.I know that wouldn't happen in Houston. LOL
Gotta love those piney woods folk

Not all Houstonians are so jaded. I recently picked up a thuggish looking guy with a gas can walking down Winkler and gave him a ride to the gas station and back to his car. Sucks when you need help and everyone just looks the other way.

I'm one of those idiots that stops and helps others. I don't know why, there's just a flaw in my personality that I haven't been able to change.

Random acts of kindness, senseless acts of mercy.

In the 1980s, I had a buddy hospitalized after stopping to help someone .... nowadays that's what cell phones and that number on the back of each driver's license is for.

Though in the 1990s when I had a pickup truck, I did let 2 stranded ppl in the country ride in the bed, while I took them to town for help; figuring they wouldn't shoot the driver while riding in the bed; they had a gun (.25 acp) and so did I (Glock 19).

Free 911 phone program http://www.911cellphonebank.org/how-it-works.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;