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[[File:Img_l_1306483.jpg|thumb|180px|right|[[User:MayaCova|MayaCova]] was using a white board with considerable success.]]
If you have a chance to plan a long hitchhiking trip in advance, some find using an erasable white board as a sign to be very useful for making big, clear and reusable signs.
Remember the sign has to be read from a distance. At 100km/hr, a vehicle is covering approx 30 meters/second. The average reaction time when driving is 1.5 to 2.5 seconds, so 45 to 75 meters has gone before they start to stop. If you want them to stop, then you not only have to place yourself in the right location so they can see that you are a traveller traveler and not just cagging a lift (this is what the sign does), you also have to have a sign that is readable. The more space between each letter the better to be read from a distance. (This is called Kernel, eg e.g. see road signs specifications.)
If space doesn´t doesn't permit a long city name shorten it to something everyone will understand. For example [[Amsterdam]] could be '''A'dam''' and [[Hamburg]] could be '''HH'''. Have a look at the country's license plates, the short forms featured there will probably be known in the population.
Signs don't just have to list a place - Much success can be had (in the proper setting) with more off-the-wall signs like "We're Awesome!", "Free Cookies!", "Runaway Bride" or even "Not Far", "that way ==>", etc.
== In the car ==
Once you've actually managed to get in the car and start heading towards your destination, it's all a matter of being courteous. Remember, your driver didn't have to pick you up at all. Settle in, get comfortable, but of course, not too comfortable. Keep your shoes off the dashboard, don't pass any form of gas (from either end), etc. In other words, don't do anything to offend your driver!
[[File:Inthecar.jpg|thumb|300px]]
== If you're lost... ==
...then it's maybe a good idea to stop travelling traveling until you know where you are. Ask whoever you can for help. Look on road signs for city names and road numbers, and try to match them with your [[map]].
If getting lost isn't a problem because you have no fixed destination, then stop worrying and enjoy the ride ;).
=== You are sure to reach your destination before the [[night]] ===
If you make small distances, you can plan in advance where you will sleep.
If you have Internet access, you can check out those websites for free accomodationaccommodation:
* [http://couchsurfing.com CouchSurfing.com] (more active);
* [http://bewelcome.org BeWelcome.org];
