What to Do When Your Car Falls into a Ditch?
3 Answers
Here are the steps to handle a car stuck in a ditch: 1. If your car has a differential lock, engage it, shift into first gear, press the accelerator, release the clutch, and drive out. 2. If there is no differential lock, you need to clear the soft mud under the tires and then place materials with high friction, such as branches, leaves, or stones, underneath. 3. If stuck in a ditch, gently press the accelerator first. If the car still cannot get out, do not continue to press harder, as this will only make the situation worse. If the tires are spinning even with a gentle press, pressing harder will only make them spin faster, resulting in zero traction and sinking deeper. 4. If the soft mud is very deep, the only solution is to call a tow truck.
Last time when I drove into a pothole at night, my first reaction was to immediately turn on the hazard lights and lock the doors. After calling the insurance rescue service, I found the car was tilted diagonally in the hole, and I didn't dare to step hard on the accelerator. I learned a trick from the repair technician: first, clear out all the loose items in the car to reduce weight, then borrow wooden planks from nearby farmers to pad under the drive wheels. Only after the car was towed out did I realize the chassis had scraped the ground, but luckily the underbody guard took the hit. A reminder to everyone: after an accident, be sure to take photos of the pothole immediately and document the damaged road reflectors, as these are key pieces of evidence for later claims.
I work on construction sites year-round and have encountered countless tire pits. Remember these three points: immediately shift to neutral and engage the handbrake after getting stuck; use nearby rocks or branches to block the wheels and prevent rolling; when trying to escape, avoid stomping on the accelerator as it will only make the situation worse. It's best to carry a tow rope and jack with you—use the jack to lift the tire off the pit bottom, then fill the pit with hard objects. Recently, I found recovery boards sold on a certain online platform incredibly useful—the foldable version doesn’t take up space in the trunk, and the rubber material grips the tire treads to increase friction.
