Hiking in the Danger Zone

Written by Shawn Ruest on 04/07/12

A young person on the road trying to get a ride

Photo by Def.X on Flickr

Imagine that you and a friend are planning a summer trip. Let’s say that there is no car or public transportation around and neither of you want to spend a fortune to go somewhere. So, how are you going to get from point A to point B? Your friend may suggest that you both hitchhike. Some of us may be stoked for an option that seems to have no price tag. And anyway, those creepy stories of meeting strangers only happen in the movies – right?

Well, there are a couple things that make hitchhiking sketchy. First of all, did you know it’s actually against the law in some provinces and territories in Canada? Also, you might have heard about “The Highway of Tears”; it’s a stretch of highway in British Columbia where a lot of hitchhikers have been disappearing for decades (Canadian Heritage). These tragedies really remind us that you can never know for sure if a driver who offers you a lift is a reliable person or not.

What if you’ve already left on a trip and you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere? If you’re in a desperate situation, an alternative plan to hitchhiking would be to call a trusted adult (like a parent) or an emergency number to get a ride to wherever you need to go.

So, before leaving for your trip – do some research to find if there are other travel options available that won’t break your bank. For example, there are student and youth discounts available on busses and trains, so these may be better services to use if you are planning a summer trip (DEAL.org). Happy Travelling!

Laws:

Alberta: Traffic Safety Act
British Columbia: Motor Vehicle Act
Manitoba: Highway Traffic Act
New Brunswick: Motor Vehicle Act
Newfoundland and Labrador: Highway Traffic Act
North West Territories and Nunavut: Motor Vehicles Act
Nova Scotia: Motor Vehicle Act
Ontario: Highway Traffic Act
PEI: Highway Traffic Act
Quebec: Highway Safety Code
Yukon: Motor Vehicles Act

Links:

Canadian Heritage: Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Section 45)
DEAL.org: How to Make the Best of Student Discards