By Gail Marsh
A frightening thing happened this week. A young driver was returning home after work. It was dark. As she pulled into town on her way home, a man drove his car beside the girl’s car seeking her attention. She rolled down her window. “Hey, your taillights aren’t working,” the man said. “Pull over and I’ll help you.” This incident is a good reminder for RVers: Be cautious around “do-gooders.”
“Kinda’ scary”
The teen driver slowed her vehicle but decided not to stop. “It just felt odd,” she reported. “It was kinda’ scary ‘cause I didn’t recognize the guy. When I got home, I checked, and my taillights were fine.”
The teen’s mom is happy her girl “Listened to her ‘gut’ and did not stop.”
Police report
When the family reported the incident to the police, they were told this wasn’t the first time a man tried to flag down a driver. The teen was able to identify the male “do-gooder” as the same guy who had approached another girl two weeks ago. He was out on bond and still up to no good.
My own experience
A similar incident happened to us recently as we drove our RV. A passing pickup truck with two adults in front and two teenagers riding in the back pulled up beside us on a two-lane road. One young adult in the back seat frantically waved and pointed to the back of our RV. He appeared to shout something, but I didn’t catch what he said. He looked concerned and kept frantically pointing behind our truck. We slowed and the pickup drove on.
When we found a safe spot to pull off the road, we checked our rig. The tires looked fine. Slides were as they should be. Taillights worked. Seeing nothing wrong, we got back on the road. I guess the mischief-maker just thought it’d be funny to indicate something was amiss.
RVers, take note and be cautious
These incidents are good reminders to be careful. If something feels “off” or you feel uncomfortable, do not stop. Instead, drive to the nearest fuel station or other location where you can see lots of people. “Safety in numbers” is a trusted axiom.
While not all “do-gooders” intend harm, it’s best to be cautious. Stay safe out there, RVing friends!
Have you ever experienced a frightening situation while RVing? Please share your story in the comments below.
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Many, many moons ago when I was also a young, solo, female driving a car, a man did the same thing to me. Fortunately I was near a town and I pulled into the police station parking lot. The guy kept on driving.
WalMart parking lots have cameras recording everything and are well lit.
When I see someone traveling that has something amiss I will let them know if I can, but I very rarely will stop. Stopping puts me in the situation your story is talking about just shoe on the other foot.
Over 20 years ago, we were in one of the less-reputable parts of New Orleans late in the day and someone tried to flag us down at a stop light to tell us we had sparks coming from underneath our Class A. Out of the goodness of their heart, they would help us fix it if we pulled over. Yeah, no. Fortunately, I had read of this scam happening, and we didn’t fall for it. Thanks for making people aware!
“Pull over and I’ll help you” would have me thinking he’s trolling for something. I offer help where I can (change tires, winch folks out of the ditch, deliver gas, fix coolant leaks, etc.) and have been blessed not to get carjacked or worse. There’s nutjobs everywhere, you just need to be aware and take precautions. Hiding fearfully in a hole is a great way to avoid them as well as life’s enjoyments though…..
First, avoid driving/towing an RV after dark if at all possible. If you stop after daylight, do so in a lighted area where there is other traffic. If there is an offer of help, use your gut. If it feels wrong, it probably is. I have had honest offers of help – and the offers came in locations with public view.
Thank you, Gail! 🙂 No, we have not fended off any scam attempts while RVing. Did have a legitimate couple who persuaded us to exit interstate after front passenger-side of towed had blown. Subsequently, we added TPMS sensores to the towed to monitor them along with the RV’s tires. Thanks for the cautionary story, and safe travels! 🙂
Gentlemen, please step up and protect women. Teach them self defense and situational awareness. We have never had so many bad actors roaming our society and preying on the most vulnerable. And despite all the efforts of feminism, women are still targeted disproportionately by both men and other women. Until we regain control of our society, these incidents will increase and only get worse.
American society is already FUBAR…and will only get worse because of lack of morals…ethics and respect for other folks. Just look at many of the political leaders in this country anymore.
And I totally agree with jails and penitentiarys packed and can’t get CO’s fast enough judges have to release them to do something worser and my representatives where ever they are could care less so now I got to walk around legally strapped with my snub nose 38 hollows.
We live in “relatively safe” times. What makes it appear worse now than in the past, is the instantaneous transmission of bad news. Prior to the internet, news was local. Now when an event like this happens anywhere in the world, it is reported everywhere. Don’t allow the possibility for bad, to steal your possibility for good. There always has been, and always will be evil in this world. Take reasonable precautions, trust your instincts, and live your life!
Fear, he is a liar.
Sven, I totally agree with you. It all started with the televising of the Viet Nam War and internet has made it 10xs worse. Find the most terrible thing happening on the earth on a specific day and make the world think it is happening all around and in your neighborhood.
Thank you, Gail. Unfortunately these predators are everywhere.
Fortunately that young lady had good sense and followed her instincts.
This also shows the importance of filing police reports even when the perp wasn’t successful.
I wonder if his bond was revoked and he was incarcerated until trial given a second attempt in just two weeks. If I was a judge, these kinds of offenders wouldn’t want to show up in my courtroom.
This happened to me one night about 1:00AM when driving home from work. This guy kept pointing to the back of my car and signaling for me to pull over. I was 18 at the time and stupidly pulled over. I quickly got out and walked to the back of my car and everything was fine. As soon as the guy got out of his car and I got a good look at him my Spidey Sense kicked in and I jumped back into my car and took off. He followed me for at least 15 minutes until I reached a gas station and pulled in. I waited awhile, then took a different route home. I never told my parents, but 40+ years later, I will never stop for someone on the road it scared me that much.
Thank goodness your Spidey Sense kicked in, Suru, or you may not have lived to tell about that harrowing experience. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Just as some birds feign injuries to draw predators away from their nests, some human predators may feign physical or mechanical crisis to draw would-be good samaritans into a con or worse.
When I see someone who may need help, I call the state highway patrol and advise them of the location of the driver who may need assistance. The troopers can get help those who need it much more efficiently than I can, and I can stay safe.myself.
A couple of years ago we were driving thru Albuquerque when someone energetically pointed behind our Class C. We pulled over and found the hood of our Smart car toad had blown off.
While hauling a motorcycle on a hydraulic lift at the back of our toyhauler fifth wheel, because we have a motorcycle with a sidecar inside, a lady was hollering at us and pointing back there. We took the next exit immediately. I went back and looked, and couldn’t find any issues, but we were always worried. She and her husband had exited too and were in front of us. I asked her what was wrong, and she said “I was asking what’s inside, if you have a toyhauler and have a bike strapped outside”. I don’t normally, but I let her have it, explaining that you don’t holler and point because the driver is FIRST going to think there’s a problem. I was really, really angry about it, too!
I had spent the weekend at my son/dil house babysitting, no in my home town by about 3hrs. It was late evening when I left. Haven driven home different ways, I chose the less traveled one. Not many vehicles at night, n going thru small towns, kinda relaxing (in mid 60’s). About halfway home I noticed a truck behind me that had been there awhile, when he could have gone past me multiple times. I pulled off onto a ramp to see if they’d follow, n they did. Then followed me bk onto the highway. I called 911. She said keep going, don’t stop, n while talking to me, I saw police lights coming up fast behind us. Made it home ok. Now, I don’t travel at night if it’s avoidable.
Not while RVing, but have been followed a couple times. Once, at night, when very young, was almost home; I drove back downtown into the police station parking area and stopped that one. Another time, it was obvious, and I drove to a big parking lot where I couldn’t get cornered, turned around and went right towards him. I think the idiot thought he knew me (maybe), and I went back out onto the highway which stopped that one. I have a gps type messenger for when no phone service, and if I need help, I’ll use it instead of looking for help on the road.
This angers me because there are times when you really do need to alert someone. A few years ago on my way home from work I saw a semi with it’s dryvan rear door open and a hand truck and other items rolling around. It could have results in one of those items flying out into traffic.
I flagged the driver down and told him his rear door was open. He waved thanks and pulled onto the shoulder to go and close it.
People that take advantage of something like this for nefarious reasons risk having real do gooders ignored for safety reasons, resulting in other bad things potentially occurring.