When your car is in the shop and you’re standing out in the cold at the bus stop waiting for the bus to come so you can get to work, that’s when a stranger stops and ask you where you’re going; You tell him that you are going to work downtown and the bus is running late. The polite stranger tells you that he’s headed in that direction and that he will give you a lift to work if you don’t mind riding with his cigar smoke.

You gladly accept his offer to bring you to work. However, you don’t know this man, he is a stranger. Later you’re making a police report, reporting the stranger for raping you and leaving you in a wooded area; luckily you were not killed. This alone should be reason enough for a woman not to accept a ride from a stranger.

There have been many things that has happen to women accepting rides from strangers, from being scammed or robbed, to being raped and murdered. Of course there are trusting people in the world, but to take a chance with your life is not worth it.

Out of desperation we will accept a ride, when feeling stranded is frightening indeed. Nevertheless, waiting for a late bus or taxi is better than being harmed by someone.

Accepting rides from strangers also send children mixed messages, especially when you have taught them that it was wrong to talk to strangers or open the door for them. Most of us was taught this and to not heed your parents warnings about trusting strangers will put you in a heap of danger.

Women are vulnerable and a target for any sexual crimes; Many women and teenagers turn up missing with their frantic families on the evening news crying that their daughter, mother or sister is missing and possibly all because they trusted a stranger.

Women should have a plan before leaving out the house and that is to have proper transportation. If you don’t have a car of your own, getting someone you know and trust to drop you off somewhere or pick you up is more safer than hoping into a car with a stranger. If a woman’s car breaks down at night on the highway, she should call a tow truck company, a relative or the police before accepting a ride with someone she doesn’t know.