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The techniques and guidelines of hitchhiking vary from country to country. Here we’ll try to present a general guide to thumbing a ride as well as tackle some of the geographic specifics of this ancient art.

Men should only really hitchhike alone unless they’re prepared to wait for half a day at a time. Two teenagers together might seem innocent enough that they’ll get rides but otherwise go it alone.

Keep your appearance smart and clean. Wearing a shirt and shaving (if you’re a guy) can help and don’t wear hats, shades, revealing clothes or outfits that mark you out as a weirdo, such as a turban or a kilt.

When it comes to catching rides there are two main tactics in hitching. One is to stand by the side of the road and leave it to chance. The other is to head to gas stations and solicit lifts. You’ll probably end up doing them both out of necessity but each requires a different strategy.

When you’re standing on the roadside, choose a place where cars can pull over safely. If you don’t you may either cause an accident or find the local police giving you a hard time. Never hitchhike on motorways unless it’s an absolute emergency but you can sometimes get away with standing on the slip roads leading on to the highway.

Smile as the cars are coming and make sure they can see your face. The drivers have about three seconds to determine that you’re not a serial killer or a freak. Look as normal and harmless as you can.

Depending on where you’re going a sign drawn with a felt tip pen on cardboard can be a good plan. It also shows that you’re a relatively together person and are going somewhere.

If you find yourself stuck inside a town or a big city either try to hitch at traffic lights on the highway out of the city or take a bus out to the next small town on your route. Hitchhiking out of a metropolis is all but impossible.

Hitching from gas stations has the obvious advantage that drivers get to size you up in person before letting you inside their cars. You can ask them where they’re going in a cheerful, friendly way and use all the charm at your disposal.

You can carry on hitching into the night at gas stations too and load up on drinking water and supplies as you need. Sometimes there will even be enough space for you to kip down in the corridor or an unused part of the restaurant.

By the side of the road you should give up at night though. No one will see you and so in addition to not getting any rides you might get run over.

A good hitchhiker always carries a bed. A good sleeping bag and waterproof poncho as a groundsheet are excellent precautions to take – in long distance hitching you have to keep your strength up by sleeping well. Waterproofs can also save your life during a rainstorm and remember that no one wants to pick up a wet and bedraggled hitchhiker. A hat and a scarf can also save your health when it gets cold and windy. Alone on a highway is a bad time to get ill.

Carry all the elements with you: A bottle of water, a lighter and matches in case you need to make a fire at night, a loaf of bread, some nuts and dry fruit to keep your energy up and lastly a pen, a good map and a torch are all smart things to fill your jacket pockets.

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