If your car slides into a ditch on a snowy road, check for injuries, assess nearby traffic, and avoid trying to drive out until you know the vehicle is stable. A car stuck in snow may need a simple winch-out, but a vehicle resting on a steep slope or close to traffic requires a more cautious approach.
Along Colorado's foothill roads, snow, ice, narrow shoulders, and changing elevations can make a slide-off difficult to handle. Knowing when to stay put, what to tell dispatch, and when to request professional recovery can help prevent a dangerous situation from getting worse.
What Should You Do Immediately After Sliding Off the Road?
Your first priority is determining whether everyone is safe.
Check yourself and your passengers for injuries before attempting to move the vehicle. If anyone is hurt, your vehicle is creating an immediate danger to traffic, or you suspect a serious hazard such as leaking fuel or downed power lines, call 911.
Once you've checked for injuries, assess where your vehicle stopped.
A car resting upright in a shallow roadside ditch presents a different situation than an SUV leaning downhill near a steep embankment. Snow can also hide rocks, drainage channels, and uneven ground that you cannot see from the driver's seat.
Pay attention to several details:
- Is any part of the vehicle blocking a travel lane?
- Are other vehicles struggling for traction nearby?
- Is the vehicle leaning, sliding, or sitting on unstable ground?
- Are the tires buried in snow or mud?
- Is there a steep drop-off below the vehicle?
- Can other drivers see your vehicle from a safe distance?
If conditions allow, activate your hazard lights to make the vehicle more visible.
Avoid walking around the vehicle on a narrow shoulder or icy roadway. Other drivers may have trouble stopping or maintaining control in the same conditions that caused your slide-off.
The Colorado Department of Transportation's winter driving guidance emphasizes the difficulty of controlling vehicles on snow and ice. Snow-covered roads require extra caution even after your vehicle has stopped moving.
Can You Safely Drive a Car Out of a Snowy Ditch?
Sometimes a vehicle can regain traction and return to the road without recovery equipment. However, attempting to drive out should only be considered when the vehicle is stable, the ground is reasonably level, and there's a clear path that does not require entering traffic unsafely.
If your car slid into a shallow snowbank beside a driveway, for example, the situation may be manageable. A vehicle sitting at an angle on an icy mountain shoulder is a different matter.
One mistake is repeatedly pressing the accelerator after the tires lose traction.
When the wheels spin without moving the vehicle, they can dig farther into the snow. The vehicle may settle onto its undercarriage, leaving less weight on the tires and making it harder to recover.
Aggressive acceleration can also cause a vehicle to move unexpectedly if the tires suddenly regain traction.
Signs You Should Stop Trying to Drive Out
Professional recovery is the better option when:
- One or more tires are suspended or have little contact with the ground.
- The vehicle is leaning toward an embankment.
- Snow or debris is packed underneath the vehicle.
- The only possible exit requires driving into traffic.
- The vehicle continues sliding when you attempt to move.
- You cannot see the terrain beneath or around the tires.
Four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive can help a vehicle move in slippery conditions, but neither system guarantees traction on ice or stability on a slope.
If you're uncertain whether another attempt is safe, leave the vehicle in place and contact a recovery operator.
Trying repeatedly to free a stuck vehicle can turn a manageable recovery into a more complicated one.
Should You Stay Inside Your Vehicle While Waiting for Help?
In many winter roadside emergencies, staying inside a stable vehicle is safer than walking along an icy highway or standing beside moving traffic.
However, that guidance depends on the vehicle's location and the immediate hazards.
If your vehicle is upright, stable, and away from dangerous traffic, remaining inside may provide shelter from cold temperatures and wind.
If the vehicle is unstable, at risk of being struck, or exposed to another immediate danger, follow instructions from emergency responders or dispatch.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's winter driving recommendations advise stranded motorists to stay with their vehicles when safe, remain visible, and avoid unnecessary physical exertion.
Be Careful When Running Your Engine
One winter hazard that drivers sometimes overlook is carbon monoxide exposure.
If snow blocks the exhaust pipe, exhaust gases can accumulate around the vehicle and potentially enter the passenger compartment.
Before running the engine for heat, the exhaust outlet must be clear of snow. Never put yourself in danger by exiting an unstable vehicle or walking into traffic to inspect it.
If the exhaust cannot be checked or safely cleared, do not run the engine.
Even with a clear exhaust outlet, avoid running the engine continuously while stranded.
The National Weather Service also recommends remaining visible to rescuers, conserving energy, and taking precautions against carbon monoxide poisoning during winter roadside emergencies.
Prepare for Cold Temperatures
Colorado's mountain weather can change quickly, and waiting in a disabled vehicle may become uncomfortable as temperatures drop.
A winter roadside kit should contain warm clothing, blankets, a flashlight, a phone charger, water, and basic emergency supplies.
If your vehicle is safely positioned and you can remain inside, conserve your phone battery while keeping it available for communication with dispatch.
Most importantly, don't leave a safe vehicle to walk for help during a snowstorm unless emergency responders advise you to do so or remaining inside presents a greater danger.
When Does a Vehicle Need Professional Winch-Out Recovery?
A vehicle doesn't necessarily need to be broken down to require professional towing equipment.
In many snowy ditch situations, the engine and drivetrain may still work properly. The problem is that the vehicle cannot return to the roadway under its own power.
This is where winch-out recovery may be appropriate.
A recovery operator evaluates the vehicle's position, terrain, available attachment points, and surrounding hazards before deciding how to move it.
The goal is to return the vehicle to stable ground without creating additional danger or unnecessary damage.
What Makes Winter Recovery More Complicated?
Several conditions can affect how a vehicle is recovered.
- Steep terrain: A vehicle resting downhill from the road may require additional stabilization before it can be moved.
- Ice and compacted snow: Limited traction can affect both the stranded vehicle and the equipment used to recover it.
- Deep snow: Snow can hide obstacles or prevent the vehicle's tires from contacting solid ground.
- Vehicle position: A car resting at an angle may respond differently to a pulling force than one sitting upright on level ground.
- Roadside traffic: Recovery near an active travel lane may require traffic control or coordination with law enforcement.
Trying to pull a stranded vehicle out with another passenger vehicle and an ordinary rope can be dangerous. Improper attachment points or recovery equipment can fail under load.
A professional operator can determine whether the situation calls for winching, towing, additional stabilization, or another recovery method.
D&J Towing provides vehicle winch-out and accident recovery services for drivers facing difficult roadside conditions throughout the Colorado foothills.
What Information Should You Give Dispatch After Sliding Off the Road?
The information you provide when requesting recovery helps the dispatcher understand where you are and what type of equipment may be needed.
You don't need to diagnose the problem yourself. Focus on describing what you can safely observe.
Your Location
Share the road or highway name, direction of travel, and nearest recognizable landmark.
Useful details include:
- Highway or road name
- Direction of travel
- Nearest exit or intersection
- Mile marker, if visible
- Nearby business or recognizable landmark
- GPS location from your phone
This is especially helpful on mountain roads where street addresses may be unavailable or unreliable.
For example, saying that you're on Highway 285 near a particular exit, traveling toward Conifer, is more useful than simply saying you're stuck somewhere outside Evergreen.
Your Vehicle and Its Position
Dispatch will also need to know what you're driving and how it is positioned.
Let them know whether you have a passenger car, SUV, pickup truck, or another vehicle type.
Describe whether the vehicle is upright, leaning, partly down an embankment, or stuck against a snowbank.
If you can tell whether the tires are buried, the undercarriage is resting on snow, or the vehicle is blocking a lane, include those details.
Any Immediate Hazards
Tell dispatch about anything that might affect the recovery, including nearby traffic, injuries, extremely icy conditions, unstable ground, or a steep drop-off.
If you are uncertain whether the vehicle is safe to occupy, explain that as well.
Avoid getting out of the vehicle to take photographs or inspect damage if doing so would expose you to traffic or unstable terrain.
Accurate information allows the recovery team to make a more informed decision about the response.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive my car out of a snowy ditch myself?
It may be possible if your vehicle is stable, has adequate traction, and can return to the road without creating another hazard. If the vehicle is buried, leaning, near an embankment, or close to traffic, repeated attempts may make the situation worse. Professional recovery is the safer option when you cannot clearly assess the terrain or vehicle position.
Should I stay in my vehicle while waiting for recovery?
If the vehicle is stable and not exposed to immediate danger, remaining inside may provide protection from cold weather and passing traffic. However, if the vehicle is unstable, at risk of being struck, or otherwise unsafe, follow instructions from emergency responders or dispatch. Avoid walking along icy roads unless leaving the vehicle is necessary for your safety.
What information should I give dispatch after sliding off the road?
Provide the road or highway name, direction of travel, nearest mile marker or landmark, and your vehicle type. Explain whether the vehicle is in a ditch, buried in snow, leaning downhill, or blocking traffic. Report injuries and other safety hazards immediately so the dispatcher understands the situation.
Severe Weather & Snowstorm Service Advisory
During snowstorms and severe winter weather, we experience a significant increase in service requests, which may result in extended response times.
We understand how stressful these situations can be and are committed to assisting our customers as quickly and safely as possible.
If your vehicle is in a safe location and you have the option to arrange transportation to a warm, secure place, we strongly encourage you to do so.
In some situations, service may need to be delayed until weather conditions improve, roads have been plowed and treated with sand or deicing materials, and temperatures allow for safer travel and recovery operations.
Your safety and the safety of our operators remain our highest priorities. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to assist everyone during challenging winter conditions.
If your vehicle has slid into a snowy ditch near Evergreen, Conifer, Morrison, or the surrounding Colorado foothills, D&J Towing can help assess the recovery situation and determine the appropriate equipment. For 24/7 assistance, call (303) 674-0198.