Situational Awareness aka Common Sense

Use it.  

On Saturday, October 12, 2013, between the hours of 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., a 32-year-old woman was traveling between Mattoon and Arcola when she stopped to pick up a hitchhiker. Because her front passenger seat was occupied with packages, the driver directed the hitchhiker into the rear seat. 

 Do I even need to say what happened next?  

After traveling a short time, the hitchhiker placed a rope around the driver’s neck and began strangling her. The hitchhiker ordered the driver to pull into an area near two grain bins. Upon arriving at the grain bins, the hitchhiker pulled the women in-between the grain bins and sexually assaulted her.

They don't say it but the description shows she was traveling North on HW 45, a long, lonely and rural road that is not heavily traveled. 

Now this woman didn't deserve what happened to her in any way but think a little bit people...

Pick up a hitchhiker on a near deserted road while you're by yourself and put him in a place that you can't see what he's doing. How many more mistakes could she have made to put herself into a dangerous situation?