The Hitch has been running for 19 years, and in that time there have been no major incidents. Clearly there is a risk factor involved in an event like this, and potential Hitchers must be aware of this. However, LCD have strict Health & Safety procedures in place to minimise the risks as much as possible, and these are based on 19 years of experience and expertise.
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More info: hitch@lcd.org.uk
In 20 years of running this event, more than 7,500 people have safely and successfully completed the Hitch with groups taking an average of around 20 lifts to get there. Thousands of Hitchers have experienced the amazing generosity of people giving them lifts, offering them free meals or giving them a free night’s accommodation.
Click here to read our Events Manager's archived blog about the remarkable generosity shown by people towards our Hitchers every year.
The Hitch operates a strict health & safety procedure and we insist that all Hitchers abide by the rules. Clearly an event of this nature can never be 100% risk-free, so potential Hitchers must be aware of this and should be conscious of their own safety at all times.
There have not been any serious incidents since the Hitch began in 1992 and we want to keep it that way - which is why we have such a strict safety framework in place.
Why can we be certain that doing the Hitch with Link is safer than hitch-hiking independently?
Support from Link – all Hitchers receive a Pre-departure Safety Pack and must attend a compulsory H&S briefing before departure.
Tracking procedure – all Hitchers must text or call us by 4pm each day on the road to update us on their progress to let us know they are safe. This information goes on the website and can be tracked by their parents, family and friends.
Emergency phone line – this is kept operational 24 hours a day for the duration of the Hitch and ensures we can deal with any potentially serious incidents as soon as they arise.
Safety in numbers – Link insists all Hitchers must participate in groups of 2 or 3 and there must be a male in every group. Each Hitcher must also have a "Nominated Contact" who can be contacted in the event of any emergency during the Hitch.
You can take your time – the Hitch is most definitely not a race. You will not receive any benefit or prize for completing the Hitch quickly. It’s far more important to be patient, take your time, trust your instincts and follow all the advice you receive from Link when soliciting lifts.
Official safety framework – Link passes on your details to the relevant foreign embassies and consulates so that they can intervene in the event of an incident.
Professional endorsement – For more than ten years, the Hitch has been sponsored by Rough Guides. Our association with such a well-established comapny in the travel/tourism market is testament to the diligent and responsible way in which we organise the Hitch, and to the experience and professionalism of Link as an organisation.
