Helping Stranded Utah Drivers Can Be Trickier Than You Think

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The other day I noticed a stranded vehicle on the side of the road. I usually don’t stop because I don’t have many mechanical skills. I mean I can change a tire and jump a battery, but beyond that I am as useless as a stripped lug nut without a wrench, but this time I decided to try and help.

Proceed with Caution For The Stranded

I was surprised to see how nervous the stranded driver was, and I realized that interactions like this aren't a simple as they once were. With this in mind here are some tips on how to help stranded motorists.

Be Safe

First and foremost, ensure your own safety. Remember there are scammers out there who are posing as stranded passengers. Carefully assess the situation before hopping out and putting yourself in harm's way. When possible, include other people, remember there is safety in numbers for the motorist and you.

Present Yourself Clearly In a Positive Manner

I noticed that the driver looked like it was an older lady, and the road was fairly quiet. I could have easily startled the driver by pulling behind her with my headlights blaring. She might have thought I was a police officer or even a scammer taking advantage of her. It was getting dark, so I pulled in front of her and waved as I got out of the car.

Take the Time to Explain Your Intentions

Sometimes I jump out ready to help and forget that the person hasn't met me before. In this situation the driver was quite agitated, but as I told her I was here to help she explained that she had someone coming and thanked me slowly getting more relaxed as we spoke.

Roadside scams are more recently more frequent, so much so that helpful tips have been surfacing outlining warning signs we should be aware of.

Read More: Remarkable Drive In Utah Includes The 5th Steepest Road

The scam can originate with the vehicle that is in “trouble” hoping to lure unsuspecting victims, but also the scammer can be the one stopping to help. Both situations are tragic as disaster is being exploited, and as they are making citizens so cautious that they don’t stop and help one another.