Potential hitch-hikers pay a deposit and register their details online, using verifiable ID.
Potential lift-givers are alerted on their GPS/web cell phone that they are approaching a registered hitch-hiker. They view the relavant details and decide whether to pick him/her up or not.
Hitch-hikers are rated by who picked them up - the more successful hitches and comments, the more likely they'll get the next ride. (Just like Slashdot)
Potential lift-givers will be advised that when a hitch-hiker has no ratings, he/she could, maybe, possibly be a psychopath with a sharp instrument.
For the first time since the 60's, people go out of their way to give folk a lift....-- bast, Mar 20 2002 (?) Instant Background Checks For All http://www.halfbake...0Checks_20For_20AllSame idea, different scope. [phoenix, May 30 2002] Hitch-hiker card http://www.halfbake.../Hitchhikers_20cardBaked? [NickTheGreat, May 30 2002] Should work in reverse too - the hitchhiker and lift-giver should rate each other, as either one could potentially be a psychopath with a knife. Mind you, any real psychopath would probably be able to rig the voting system.-- hippo, Mar 20 2002 Perhaps just match the psycopaths up with each other and thin out the numbers over time-- dare99, Mar 20 2002 Now [dare99], that's a clever idea.-- hippo, Mar 20 2002 ....wanna see something really scary?.......-- rbl, Mar 20 2002 Excellent idea. PeterSealy's angle could probably be implemented right now with a simple website.-- PotatoStew, Mar 20 2002 I wonder which group, historically, faces the greater risk: the hitchhiker or the driver?-- bristolz, Mar 20 2002 Historically I would guess hitchhikers have taken greater risks, because they are more desperate... Try standing by a Czech highway for 3 hours in pouring rain with a big heavy backpack, and you'll take a lift from anybody, however scary they look. Whereas the drivers can always just pass by. But on average - at least in Europe - I think drivers are as afraid of hitchhikers as hitchhikers of drivers. Best way to look "safe": travel in couples. Drivers are more willing to pick up young couples than young single men. And young women should not be hitchhiking alone at all.-- herilane, Mar 20 2002 Word to the wise: avoid Turkish lorry drivers at all costs. They don't seem to understand the concept of a free lift - try to convince one that you *really* have no money at four in the morning somewhere in Bulgaria while he waves a six inch hunting knife at you. The stories I've heard from women hitch-hikers are even worse.-- mcscotland, Mar 20 2002 Yeah, it's hard to convince them that you don't have what they're asking for, then...-- StarChaser, Jun 01 2002 Wow! It will never work, they said. Then Uber and Lyft became Billion dollar industries.-- myclob, Apr 02 2020 Wow! It will never work, they said. Then Uber and Lyft became Billion dollar industries.-- myclob, Apr 02 2020 random, halfbakery