Car in a Ditch in an Illinois Winter: What to Do Before the Truck Arrives

Safety Comes Before the Car

1. Check for injuries. If anyone is hurt or the car is on its side or roof, call 911.
2. Keep the seat belt on until you know the car is stable. A car on a slope can shift.
3. Turn on hazard lights. Black ice and low visibility make it hard for other drivers to see you.
4. Look for hazards. Fuel smell, smoke, downed power lines or a rising water level mean you should leave and call 911.
5. Stay with the car unless there is danger. It is shelter, and rescuers can find it.

Do Not Spin the Wheels

Everybody wants to try. Accelerating in a ditch digs the tires in, burns the clutch or automatic transmission and can throw mud and snow against the radiator. It also makes the recovery harder, because the car sits lower than when it first stopped.

A gentle rocking motion between drive and reverse can free a car stuck in light snow on level ground, but if the car is on a slope or has dropped into a ditch, stop. Call for help, and keep your wheels straight.

Staying Warm and Safe While You Wait

• Run the engine for short periods only, and first make sure the tailpipe is clear of snow. A blocked exhaust can fill the cabin with carbon monoxide.
• Crack a window slightly while the engine is running.
• Put on extra layers, a hat and gloves. Use blankets if you have them.
• Save your phone battery. Use a car charger only while the engine is on.
• Do not walk away from the car in the dark or in a storm.

Rural roads in Boone County, like those along IL-76 or around Poplar Grove, may not have another driver for a long time. That is another reason to stay in the car and call early.

What Dispatch Needs to Know

Tell us where you are with a road name and the nearest cross street or landmark. Describe how deep the ditch is, which way the car is facing, whether the wheels are buried and whether the car is leaking. A photo, if you can take one safely, helps the driver choose the rigging. That is how our winch-out recovery crews decide on the plan before the truck leaves.

After the Pull: Check Before You Drive

Once the car is back on the road, look for fluid leaks, hanging parts and warning lights. Check that the steering is straight and that the wheels turn freely. Snow packed into wheel wells and under the car can hide damage. If anything feels off, tow it to a shop. We can look at it at 1007 Logan Ave, where our auto repair bay checks suspension and steering after a slide-off.