When I was in yeshiva, there was no reason to hitch. everything we could have possibly wanted or needed was contained in the yeshiva building (dorm and meals) and anything we wanted to purchase was available less than a 5 minute walk (the yeshiva had rules about where we could shop, the local wegmans and cvs were b”h on the approved list). Anything beyond that point was unattainable simply because one had to check out of the building and was always given a strict time frame for how long they could be out and had to check back in.
I personally forbid my children from hitching. You never know who will stop and offer you a ride.