Professional drivers have long been known as the Knights of the highway, always willing to pull over and help when they come across someone in distress. But recently a Good Samaritan driver for Mount Pearl, Nfld.-based Atlantica Diversified Transportation Systems was victimized when he stopped to help out a motorist who flagged him down by flashing his headlights.

The truck driver was subsequently robbed of cash, clothing and even his satellite radio.

The experience has Gord Peddle, part-owner of Atlantica, wondering if it has become too dangerous for professional drivers to stop and help.

“The truck driving community generally feels themselves responsible, champions of the road,” he told CBC. “I know when I started in the early 80s it was a known fact, you would never…go by someone on the side of the road needing assistance, but I think as the days go by it’s getting less and less because of the risk. Maybe it’s gone to a time that you see someone in distress at the side of the road in the middle of the night, you just call the RCMP and let them deal with it.”

It’s a sad commentary, but also an honest assessment of today’s reality. You can read the full CBC story here.