The vote/poll assumes in all cases that the hitcher is thumbing where you can safely stop.
What prompts this thread is my latest 'pick-up-a-hitcher' experience. I used to hitch-hike a lot myself many moons ago.
On my way to Quality Dave's the other day I was in a 30 mph zone and spotted a young woman thumbing for a lift in a bus-stop layby.. She looked a bit rough but not tarty and gave direct eye-contact.. So I made the split-second decision, could stop easily and did stop. I then saw that a bloke was with her! Ooops! was my initial thought, especially as he looked a bit rough. I had stuff all over my back seat and said I only had one seat spare but they were so relieved I had stopped and offered to help me make space - They'd been thumbing for an hour and had one woman stop and then drive off laughing at them and another woman who stopped to shout abuse at them about why they could afford drugs but not the bus. They were naturally angry about this and said that although they drank a lot both had stopped drugs about seven years ago and they only smoked the weed occasionally now anyhow.
Before letting them in I found out where they were going - About 10 miles to the next town. I always find out their destination first.
They were extremely grateful and surprised I had stopped and were very impressed by the car. To my great surprise the young woman (early 30's?) knew quite a lot about cars - Her favourite is the Lancia Delta and she mentioned the Integrale! On one bend in the twisties the guy asked how on earth my car didn't skip across the road and she told him it was because the handling was well sorted and it wasn't all about power - I was impressed.
Conversation was lively and interesting and when I asked about their hitch-hiking they said they always had difficulty because they were well known and also to the local police. I'm well known to the local police too - But for quite different reasons! She said that he'd just come out of jail after 2 years inside. I wondered whether to ask what for but didn't want to risk him saying it was for car theft! I've spent plenty time with various people on both sides of the law and in fact one of my best London mates had to leave the UK in a bit of a hurry! So I'm not easily phased. I've also had a knife around my throat while in a car (I was a front seat passenger) but that's another story. I have lots of hitch-hiking stories to tell, both as a driver and a hitcher.
When I let them out they were seriously grateful and both shook my hand and he said that I'd be blessed for my kindness. I think they were a bit gobsmacked that I'd stopped - But, like he said, never judge a book by its cover. "Hey man! You're really cool, man! Really cool! Thanks!" were his parting words.
So, do you folks give lifts ever?