This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you may go to the hyperlink bellow: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/apr/20/kindness-of-strangers-car-stuck-on-highwayand if you wish to take away this text from our website please contact us [ad_1] My first automobile was a Datsun, in a pleasant shade of baby-poo brown. I’d solely been on my Ps per week once I virtually drove it to whole catastrophe.It was 11pm one night time in south-west Sydney once I approached the massive intersection that hyperlinks the Hume Highway with Henry Lawson Drive. I used to be making an attempt to show proper on to the freeway and was the primary automobile on the lights. With the baseless confidence of a 17-year-old, I turned … into the incorrect lane.In an prompt, automobiles have been coming in direction of me. All I might suppose to do in that “Holy shit!” second was to mount the median strip, to get away from oncoming site visitors and on to the proper aspect of the street.If solely it have been that straightforward. The median strip was at an angle and, as I tried the mount, my automobile obtained caught. The Datsun was now dangling off the median strip in the midst of the Hume Highway, dealing with the incorrect path. My wheels weren’t touching the bottom, so I couldn’t reverse. I used to be screwed.I obtained out of the automobile and stood there fairly hopelessly – this was a time earlier than cell phones, not that I had roadside help anyway – when a pair pulled over to supply some assist. They made a suggestion: there’s a truck cease throughout the street, why don’t you go ask if there’s somebody there who will help you get the automobile towed?I grew up in a strictly spiritual family, so the concept of strolling right into a truck cease late at night time was terrifying. Feeling massively intimidated and fairly humiliated, and bracing to be harassed, I walked throughout and defined my state of affairs to the girl working behind the until. She promptly shouted on the desk of 5 raucous, burly, singlet-clad truckies consuming a meal behind her that there was a automobile caught in the midst of the freeway and a teenage driver who didn’t know what to do about it.With little fuss, the truckies obtained up from the desk and casually walked throughout the freeway, stopping site visitors with the wave of a hand. They then picked up my beloved Datsun as if it have been no heavier than a bag of groceries and positioned it on the proper aspect of the street. I sheepishly hopped in and drove residence whereas they cheered me off.I realized a beneficial lesson: that generally the individuals who look the scariest can really be the kindest.I sincerely hope these truckers didn’t put their again out lifting the automobile. And I belief I gave them a comic story for his or her troubles.What is the nicest factor a stranger has ever completed for you?From making your day to changing your life, we want to hear about chance encounters that have stuck with you. ","prompt":"Share your experience","displayOnSensitive":false,"elementId":"13641c53-7887-4ba0-b7d7-ff375c8bfa70","title":"What's the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?","isNonCollapsible":false,"formFields":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldBase","name":"what_is_your_name","id":"180759333","hideLabel":false,"label":"What is your name?","hidden":false,"type":"text","required":true},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldBase","name":"where_do_you_live_city_state_and_country","id":"180759334","hideLabel":false,"label":"Where do you live (city, state and country)?","hidden":false,"type":"text","required":true},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldBase","name":"tell_us_a_bit_about_the_kind_act_youve_experienced_","id":"180759335","hideLabel":false,"label":"Tell us a bit about the kind act you've experienced? ","hidden":false,"type":"textarea","required":true},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldBase","name":"where_and_when_did_this_encounter_take_place","id":"180759349","hideLabel":false,"label":"Where and when did this encounter take place?","hidden":false,"type":"textarea","required":true},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldRadio","name":"can_we_publish_your_response","options":[{"label":"Yes, entirely","value":"Yes, entirely"},{"label":"Yes, but contact me first","value":"Yes, but contact me first"},{"label":"Yes, but please keep me anonymous","value":"Yes, but please keep me anonymous"},{"label":"No, this is information only","value":"No, this is information only"}],"id":"180759336","hideLabel":false,"label":"Can we publish your response?","hidden":false,"type":"radio","required":true},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldRadio","name":"are_you_comfortable_with_a_journalist_contacting_you_about_this_story_for_potential_publication","options":[{"label":"Yes","value":"Yes"},{"label":"No","value":"No"}],"id":"180759337","hideLabel":false,"label":"Are you comfortable with a journalist contacting you about this story for potential publication?","hidden":false,"type":"radio","required":false},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldBase","name":"what_is_your_phone_number","description":"Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian.","id":"180759338","hideLabel":false,"label":"What is your phone number?","hidden":false,"type":"text","required":false},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldBase","name":"what_is_your_email_address_","description":"Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian.","id":"180759339","hideLabel":false,"label":"What is your email address ","hidden":false,"type":"text","required":true}],"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutBlockElementV2","tagName":"aus-callout-kindness-of-strangers","activeFrom":1740528000000,"id":"9c4533ce-53cd-4a8c-b922-c4a5827d92c4","calloutsUrl":"https://callouts.guardianapis.com/formstack-campaign/submit","formId":6112645},"pageId":"lifeandstyle/2026/apr/20/kindness-of-strangers-car-stuck-on-highway"}">Share your expertiseWhat's the nicest factor a stranger has ever completed for you?From making your day to altering your life, we wish to hear about likelihood encounters which have caught with you. Your responses, which could be nameless, are safe as the shape is encrypted and solely the Guardian has entry to your contributions. We will solely use the information you present us for the aim of the characteristic and we are going to delete any private information once we not require it for this goal. For alternative routes to get in contact securely please see our ideas information.Show extra [ad_2] This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you may go to the hyperlink bellow: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/apr/20/kindness-of-strangers-car-stuck-on-highwayand if you wish to take away this text from our website please contact us