a ditch up the road

[keannu]

What is this "up the road"? Above or on the higher side of the road or following the road? What is it?

ex)An urban legend tells of a drunk driver who is pulled over by the police. The officer asks the man to step out of the car for a sobriety test, but just as the test is about to begin, a car suddenly turns into a ditch up the road.....

[5jj]

... a little farther along the road.