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The Here's a list of most common [[hitchhiking|hitchhiker]] '''mistakes''' to avoid if you want to go as fast and efficient as possible:.Of course, as always, feel free to make mistakes if you feel like it.

# '''Overestimate You want to go South and end up going East. Make sure where your Skills'''<br />This is a quite nice one for experienced hitchhikersdriver goes before you are heading off.. Starting late in the evening or planning too long distances.<br /><br />

# == Don'''Listen to the Driver's Suggestions'''<br />Everybody does it in the beginning of their career. You are not quite sure about the place you want to be dropped and you listen to the suggestions of t overestimate your driver (who often hitchhiked himself in the seventies). Never do, you are the hitchhiking expert and you know [[where to hitchhike]]. In 9 of the 10 cases you will have a couple of hours waiting time to regret the decision. ;-)<br /><br />skills ==

#'''Losing Items While on the Road'''<br />Hitchhiking requires going into and leaving vehicles, sometimes very quickly depending on the situationThis is a quite nice one for experienced hitchhikers. It happens easily that you forget an object, for example the map that you use to study Starting late in the best place to change cars, evening or to know where about you actually are. Don't unpack anything, and keep you stuff in your pockets & bagsplanning too long distances.<br /><br />

#== Don't listen to driver''Discussing controversial matters with drivers, losing control over conversation''' (e.g. Religion, Politics or Sex)<br />Some drivers need to bring over extreme political opinionss suggestions ==Everybody does it in the beginning of their career. This is You are not food for debate, quite sure about the place you only need want to hear it because for one be dropped and you were listen to accept the ride from a stranger. Discussing those matters too fiercely has a negative impact suggestions of your driver (who often hitchhiked himself in the joy of seventies). Be careful in doing this, you are the conversation hitchhiking expert and the pleasure experienced during and after the rideyou know [[where to hitchhike]]. Often a driver does not really know what a good spot for a hitchhiker looks like. As ridiculous If you are not well prepared or extreme as his points of view do not know the road well, you may be, agree with still consider the driver's suggestions, and take it an exercise in diplomacy: laugh it off afterwards!<br /><br />but having a map at hand will help you at least as much.

# '''Stick == Get out in time ==Applies only to a [[gas station|Gas Stationmotorway]]hitchhiking. If your ride is only passing your destination and it'''<br />You're at s too far from the motorway, make sure to get out on a gas petrol station on to find a ride into town. Usually the [[highway]] and the next gas last petrol station on the highway is 122 km away. Don't be set upon finding a ride that takes well suitable for this, as you there. If will find local and regional traffic to take you end up not getting a ride for more than 30 minutes you're probably better off at an on-ramp half way -- as long as there's enough daylight left. However, keep Mistake #3 in mind.<br /><br />

#== Don'''Going one gas station too far'''<br>Missing your exit or last station before your destination might cause getting off at first station after your destinationt lose items on route ==Hitchhiking requires going into and leaving vehicles, sometimes very quickly depending on the situation. It is deadly situationhappens easily that you forget an object, unless for example the map that you find an Extremely Friendly Driver with a lot of Free Time who is happy use to study the best place to change cars, or to drive know where about you backactually are. You do not want to walk kilometres back along the motorwayDon't unpack anything, even if this may seem temptingand keep your stuff in your pockets & bags. Get a lift When getting out of the car always look at the seat to the next off-rampmake sure nothing fell out! Also, walk acrossvice versa, and hitch back from where you camemake sure to not accidentally take something that's not yours, we don't want to give hitchhikers a bad name! Organize your stuff.<br /><br />

#== Don'''Truck Stops t discuss controversial matters with 2 People'''drivers or loose control over conversation ==(e.g. Religion, Politics or Sex)<br />Truckers are often happy Some drivers need to take hitchhikersbring over extreme political opinions. But in [[Western Europe]] and [[North America]] they're unlikely to pick up two hitchhikersThis is not food for debate, especially if their colleagues can see them. Avoid places with you only trucks if need to hear it because for one you want were to accept the ride from a stranger. Discussing those matters too fiercely has a negative impact of the joy of the conversation and the pleasure experienced during and after the ride for 2. AlsoAs ridiculous or extreme as his points of view may be, either agree with the driver, and take it is illegal an exercise in some countries for truck drivers to take 2 peoplediplomacy, as the truck cab only has 2 seat beltsor get out. If this happens to you you're best shot is to look for trucks of one company, Laugh it's likely that they're driving together into one direction.off afterwards!<br /><br />

#== Don't stick to a [[Petrol station hitchhiking|Gas Station]]==You''Not turning down Rides'''<br />In several occasions it re at a gas station on the [[highway]] and the next gas station on the highway is good to turn down rides122 km away. The clearest example is Don't be set upon finding a ride that accepting short rides from good hitchhiking spots is takes you there. If you end up not always getting a good decisionride for more than 30 minutes you're probably better off at an on-ramp half way -- as long as there's enough daylight left. The right decision can only be made with a lot of experienceHowever, and making the right decisions is always easier on roads that you already knowkeep Mistake #3 in mind.<br /><br />

#== Don'''Falling asleept go one gas station too far, Falling in love (with the driver) unless... ==Missing your exit or starting last station before your destination might cause getting off at first station after your destination. This is a too interesting discussion'''<br />These mistakes make you miss difficult place though to get to the best hitchhiking spotsgood direction, because you are sleepingunless it is a crossable [[rest area|Rest_area]]. You do not want to walk kilometres back along the motorway, because of even if this may seem tempting. Get a lift to the butterfliesnext off-ramp, walk across, or because the talking takes up all of your attention..and hitch back to where you came from.<br /><br />

#== Don'''Watching a Movie While Driving'''<br />Many t hitch with two or more at truck drivers nowadays have laptops and DVD players stops ==Truckers are often happy to take hitchhikers. But in their truck, [[Western Europe]] and sometimes [[North America]] they even watch movies while driving're unlikely to pick up two hitchhikers, especially if their colleagues can see them. Of course Avoid places with only trucks if you should kindly ask the driver to shut it downwant a ride for 2. Also, but sometimes it happens that he just turns on a movie is illegal in some countries for you. Too badtruck drivers to take 2 people, just before as the climax of the movie truck cab only has 2 seat belts. If this happens to you have your best shot is to go outlook for trucks of one company, it's likely that they're driving together into one direction. Not good!<br /><br />

#'''Don't go == Turn down rides ==In several occasions it is good to turn down rides. The clearest example is that accepting short rides from good hitchhiking spots is not always a good decision. The right decision can only be made with truckers in [[Germany]]'''a lot of experience, and making the right decisions is always easier on roads that you already know.<br />Normal cars are likely to go very fast (over 200 km<br /h at times). Truckers may be good for an overnight haul to save you having to hitch-hike through the night, but in the daytime normal cars are a much fatser option.>