The country that banned hitchhiking

by Nicola Dotto - 2014.09.15

Hitchhikers will no longer be able to thumb a lift in Romania in the hope of travelling for free or for a small tip. The government has introduced the ban, which prohibits drivers without a valid permit from stopping for strangers and taking them to their destination. It's a decision likely to harm the poorest people, who still use this form of travel to save on the cost of a bus or taxi, especially in rural areas, where it's not uncommon to see entire families by the road waiting for a lift. The new law, says Bucharest's government, aims to stop the black market, which continues to grow at the expense of state-owned companies. The hefty fines for the 'abusive driver' can be up to 1,200 euros and they show that the hunt for hitchhikers has already begun.