I'm not sure about other parts of the country, but here in Washington most places have "the dreaded ditch" on either side of the road. The ditch can be anywhere from shallow (1-2 ft deep) to a ravine-type depth of 10-20 feet deep. It is amazing how "the dreaded ditch" is such a magnet for drunk drivers (and for people who fall asleep at the wheel). At least once a week, someone in my district gets sucked in to the ditch!
Bonehead