Stopping to help on the side of the road - risks?
 

Every once in a while I see someone stopped on the side of the road, potentially in a bit of trouble. I'm trying to be a nice person, and generally stop to see if I can be of help. What guidelines do you use to decide when to stop and when to keep going?

I realize this exposes me to more risk - and not just from inattentive drivers who might swing outside of their lanes and hit me, but from malicious people who might take advantage of my desire to help.

So far I have had no issues, but the riskiest places I've been to on a motorbike were the United States and Baja California - that is to say, they aren't particularly risky at all.

I try not to stop on busy freeways, mostly because of other fast traffic and because if there is a lot of traffic, there is also usually cell signal and people can call for professional help, tow, etc.

Out in the middle of nowhere I tend to be a lot more considerate about the other motorcyclists, especially if they are alone, and will frequently keep going if it's a car on the side of the road with a whole bunch of people already busy doing something.

I do generally stop if people explicitly ask me to, and so far it was ok, but I have read accounts of people getting robbed that way or what not in some less prosperous places.

What guidelines do you have for handling someone who appears to be in trouble on the side of the road when you travel in foreign countries? How much of it is country specific?

I'm like you...I know things can happen and I keep my wits about me, but, honestly I've never had any serious trouble with anyone in my travels. I think you can miss out on a lot if you are afraid to stop and connect with people.

A few years ago I was heading south on a small road from Ciudad Maiz, MX towards Rayon and after riding about 40 km I spotted a little white car down the road with its hood up.

I approached cautiously (thinking hijack?) and a woman stepped out from behind the car, waving me down. I was ready to gun the motor and run as she explained that they ( there were 3 of them) had run out of gas and wanted to know if I could help them out.

http://i831.photobucket.com/albums/z...63134904_3.jpg

I had just filled up at the last town and had plenty to spare, so while I pulled the fuel line off my tank, one of the men scrambled down the embankment and found a 2 liter juice bottle.

http://i831.photobucket.com/albums/z...429_060454.jpg

While we were filling the container - it took awhile with my small diameter fuel line- we began chatting: me in my slightly-better-than-broken Spanish.

The woman picked up some stones from the road and began to juggle while we talked. Turns out they were part of a circus troupe and the third man gave me his card and invited me to attend their performance.

[http://i831.photobucket.com/albums/z...429_060255.jpg

Makes for good memories.

..............shu