Are they still around, as I have not seen a hitchhiker in years. A decade ago,When I was commuting long distances I used to see the odd one waiting by the motorway slip road, but I never gave them a lift. I am not a charitable sort.

Only if they were carrying trade plates.

I occasionally picked up hitchhikers in the 1970's, when I was in my 20's, especially if i was driving a van or lorry. But I don't do so now, not unless it's obviously someone in difficulty - like broken down. But come to think of it, most people have mobile phones these days - then, if you were being a good samaritan to someone broken down, they'd only want a lift to the next phone-box or garage most likely.

I do think life used to be more care-free. Not that bad things never happened, just not so much.

Edited by Sofa Spud on 01/04/2011 at 14:20

I recently saw a hitchicker across the road from the BMW plant, Oxford. He was holding up a tradeplate & wearing a backpack, I can't remember when I last saw one on the side of a bye-pass or at a roundabout, with 'M6' written in black marker on a piece of wet cardboard. MIL told me you used to see them hang around outside the old Rover plant in Cowley.