Is it safe to hitchhike anymore? Need to visit family for the holidays. Anyone here have any advice?

[Xyzse]

41. I'm sorry...

Though yeah, I always thought it a strange thing.

I have given rides to strangers before however. Although I can actually count them in one hand.

See, I've been helped on the road before, and I fully believe in the idea of paying it forward.

1 - Old woman, who flagged me at the side of the road. Was heading to Baltimore.
I was so confused about this one. I feel like she randomly flagged me, and just went to my passenger seat. It happened so fast, that I can't really tell you how I just allowed it. It was in New York Avenue in DC, which is a very very congested street. I only drove her for about 5 blocks before she got off. During the whole time she was talking about something "religious" which was strange because what she was citing was definitely not on the bible or any other thing I have read. Something about God in a Stranger or being called up at night or some such. Strange strange event in my life. I have no clue why I even let her in.

2 - Drunk White Guy in a smashed up Benz. Probably around 3 am, was heading home.
I saw this car, that was kinda disabled with a flat tire. It was a pretty new Benz at the time, and it was slowly inching at the median, between the local and express lanes. So I decided to stop, help a guy out. Saw the guy, drunk off his rocker, and I tried to help him change his tire, but it was one of those cars that have a lock on their nut.(LOL) Any how, I saw that it was going nowhere, and I tried to just call a tow company to help him out. Instead, we agreed upon going to a gas station so I can drop him off some place kinda warm, so he could wait. So, drove north-bound because the next exit was about 3 miles ahead, and got to a gas station. Then he went off and said "Ahhhh just take me home." I was like, aw carp, I can't just push this guy out now... So, drove him home, which was in the Potomac. He missed his exit by like 7 exits. He was smashed, and yep, he did smash his car, slowly against the side of the road. All that time, he was talking about how I should be married by now, and that I'm a nice guy and all that.

Any how, I wrote down my number, the location of his car (which was on the side of the road, and which exit) and got a call from him the next day thanking me, saying he was in a bad state then. So I guess that was ok.

3 - Stranded Woman(probably 20 years older than me) on the side of the highway.
This one happened just right on a New Year's day. I was coming from Virginia heading to Maryland. Saw a car stranded on the side of the road. It was a hispanic couple with a troubled car, which stopped working, probably something wrong with the radiator. They had the radiator cap open, and the guy was placing water in it. I gave them what water I had, but it just wasn't going any where. I was asked for a favor by the guy to bring the woman to her place, and like I said, I've been helped on the side of the road before, and I didn't have anything pressing to do, so I ended heading to the other side of the highway, which added an extra hour and a half to my trip home. The thing about this one, is that she tried to give me money for the trip, which was so nice. I declined it though, since it was my first good deed of the year. Made me happy.

So, I guess I was wrong, I did pick up some "hitch-hikers" before.

I am a FRIGGIN REBEL!!!!