So my car slid into a ditch today :(

[Tjalfe]

So heading home from work today. Sunny out, roads were fine. That is untill I hit a stretch with some blowing snow across it.. I did not think much of it, as the roads are usually fine , that is untill I see the car in the ditch... I take the foot off the accelerator, and now realize that what the blowing snow is hiding is a solid layer of ice. Yay. After some heavy fish tailing, barely avoiding an oncomming school bus, I end up facing the opposite direction of where I was going, with the right side of my car sunk into the snowfilled ditch.

My brother was with me, who had a CAA membership. Luckily a tow truck had already been dispatched for the other car, so after 15 minutes I was pulled out and could go on my way.

Lessons learned..
blowing snow = really bad
winter tires saved my from fishtailing enough to hit the oncomming school bus.
I also just now signed up for a CAA membership

[Elie]

Hey were you on 19th Avenue by any chance?

[RhinoZ]

You bet on the winter tires!!!
Same thing here in Ottawa too, blowing snow, very cold with the hard wind but no ice on the roads.
And we are looking at a nice weekend.

[Tjalfe]

Hey were you on 19th Avenue by any chance?

Nope.. Aurora Lloydtown road .. I have never seen it in such condition before. The towtruck started sliding when it was pulling me out too

[Elie]

because my wife said on 19th avenue there were two cars in the ditch too.

Wow, the roads must of been relly bad!

Here a tip, if you drive a standard vehicle and run into a situation like this, press the clutch and let the car coast through it.

If you drive an automatic, chage it to nutural and again coast through the icey area.

I hope there was not much damage, and that you are ok!

Regards,
ELie

[Tjalfe]

The funny thing is that before that stretch and all the way home after, the roads were dry and no problem, just that one stretch was really really bad

I was driving an automatic.. colum shifting, so while correcting for fishtailing, I could not get to the shifter. I did take my foot off the pedals while it happened, untill I was about to impact the side of the snowbanks, when I slammed on the brakes.. it worked in that I did not hit the tree just a few feet away, and the car could be driven home, with no visible damage.
Both myself, my brother and the dog are fine.. no injury, other than being a little shaken up


As we drove away, we saw 3 more tow trucks heading towards the same road.. I have to wonder if someone else slid off after us :|

[spadnos]

The funny thing is that before that stretch and all the way home after, the roads were dry and no problem, just that one stretch was really really bad

I was driving an automatic.. colum shifting, so while correcting for fishtailing, I could not get to the shifter. I did take my foot off the pedals while it happened, untill I was about to impact the side of the snowbanks, when I slammed on the brakes.. it worked in that I did not hit the tree just a few feet away, and the car could be driven home, with no visible damage.
Both myself, my brother and the dog are fine.. no injury, other than being a little shaken up


As we drove away, we saw 3 more tow trucks heading towards the same road.. I have to wonder if someone else slid off after us :|

Winter tires (along with studs, if they're allowed) are just what you need in the - uh - winter.

You should probably have a qualified technician look at various underbody parts, such as brake lines. It may look like there's no damage, but it's the unseen things that may kill you one day.

- Steve

[Tjalfe]

Winter tires (along with studs, if they're allowed) are just what you need in the - uh - winter.

You should probably have a qualified technician look at various underbody parts, such as brake lines. It may look like there's no damage, but it's the unseen things that may kill you one day.

- Steve

I got winter tires for the first time 3 years ago(Michelin Artic Alpine 225-60/R16).. I will never go back to all seasons for winter driving again.. no way. Studs are not allowed in Ontario, which I suppose makes sense, as the roads are generally cleared most of the time and would wear down the roads in no time.

I don't think anything got damaged underneath, the impact did not seem violent enough for that. I plan to take the car in for an oil change / tune up in the next short while anyways, so I will ask them then. I will check for any puddles under my car though from leaking hoses.. damn winter makes it a tad uncomfortable to do any of this stuff at home myself

[gt40]

I worked as a Shop foreman at a Honda dealership some 15-20 years ago.
It never failed - the first freeze or snowfall we would have 5-10 vehicles come in after coming up on a curve.
Most said they were't going any faster than 5 mi/hr when the hit the curb. The damages ranged from a bent rim to various steering/suspension components sometimes totalling over $2,000 .
These cars were built light, and not designed to take ANY lateral impacts at the wheel.
I was really amazed how flimsy they were ( I was driving a land yacht of a 76 Monte Carlo at the time) compared to the north american vehicles.
Take your car for a drive on a long flat straight road and make sure it doen't pull or vibrate or jerk when turning.
As long as you didn't whack anything with the wheels, you'll likely be fine

[Gurm]

I was waiting for the punch line...

"I was walking home from the forum yesterday and..."

But there was no punch line.

How did it turn out? Everything ok?

[Tjalfe]

I worked as a Shop foreman at a Honda dealership some 15-20 years ago.
It never failed - the first freeze or snowfall we would have 5-10 vehicles come in after coming up on a curve.
Most said they were't going any faster than 5 mi/hr when the hit the curb. The damages ranged from a bent rim to various steering/suspension components sometimes totalling over $2,000 .
These cars were built light, and not designed to take ANY lateral impacts at the wheel.
I was really amazed how flimsy they were ( I was driving a land yacht of a 76 Monte Carlo at the time) compared to the north american vehicles.
Take your car for a drive on a long flat straight road and make sure it doen't pull or vibrate or jerk when turning.
As long as you didn't whack anything with the wheels, you'll likely be fine

There was no sudden impact, it was a gradual stop in snow which gave way. The right side wheels were pretty much covered, and there was no chance of getting out the right side doors. I have a 2001 Chev. Impala, with Canadian Tire steel rims for the winter tires.. should be stronger than the alloy wheels it came with ( I hope)

On the trip home, which was mostly straight, I did not hear any strange noises, nor did the car pull to the side anymore than it normally does ( which I blame on the road more than the car)

[ZokesPro]

Phew! Could have been worse! I too have winter tires, sure helped when driving my grilfriend to the hospital on friday, seeing as it was snowing pretty hard. Having CAA is also a good thing too.

Glad all is well.