Top 10 Most Dangerous Roads in the World
At one time or another, most drivers encounter unsafe road conditions. Hazards can appear in many different forms; for instance, poor weather, drunk drivers, and simple human error can all complicate an otherwise uneventful journey. On the other hand, sometimes the condition of the road itself can put your life in jeopardy.
10. Grand Trunk Road (India)
Constructed by the Pashtun emperor Sher Shah Suri in the 16
th
century, India’s Grand Trunk Road (also known as GT) spans more than
1,500 miles from Bangladesh in the east to Pakistan in the west, serving
as one of the main thoroughfares across the Indian subcontinent. Over
the years, it has functioned both as a major trade route and as a
convenient right-of-way for invading armies.
GT is considered dangerous not because of risky heights or
disheartening road conditions, but because of the traffic congestion.
Trucks, buses, bicycles, pedestrians, and animals have turned parts of
this heavily-used road into a major headache. If you’re planning to
drive here, you’ll want to be as alert as possible. Photo: by
Beardy Git
9. San Isidro de General – Cartago (Costa Rica)
The Pan-American Highway has plenty of dangerous stretches, but the
old road that passes through the Costa Rican mountains to link San
Isidro de General and Cartago is especially hazardous.
The high point in the pass is known as Cerro de la Muerte, or
Mountain of Death – not technically because of the road, but because
people traveling through the pass before the road existed often didn’t
survive the cold journey. However, the name happens to be an apt
descriptor for the road itself, which tests drivers with excessive
potholes, steep, narrow curves, and plenty of fog. The road’s height
(13,000 feet) can also cause altitude sickness, further impairing
drivers.
In addition to these perils, you can also expect to deal with the
imprudent habits of local bus and truck drivers, who tend to drive very
aggressively and irresponsibly despite the unsafe conditions.
Fortunately, a new paved road between Quepos and Dominical has recently
been completed, which will give travelers an alternative to the Mountain
of Death route.
8. Sichuan – Tibet Highway (China)
China’s high-altitude Sichuan – Tibet Highway covers about 1,500
miles between Chengdu in the east and Lhasa (Tibet) in the west,
offering the choice between the northern or southern route. Both options
boast beautiful scenery, enormous mountain peaks, various cultural and
historical attractions, and many famous rivers. Que’er Mountain pass,
the highest point on the route, rises to over 20,000 feet.
Like many other roads that cut through mountains, the Sichuan – Tibet
Highway is prone to landslides, falling rocks, and extreme weather
conditions that can close roads for a month at a time. Add avalanches
and altitude sickness to the lineup, and you could find yourself in
rather unsafe driving conditions. It’s certainly a great route for
sightseeing, but keep in mind that it will also add a good dose of
intensity to your driving adventures.
7. Skippers Road (New Zealand)
In 1862, a couple of shepherds discovered gold in the Shotover River
near Queenstown, New Zealand, prompting an immediate gold rush. This in
turn necessitated the creation of an access route, and the result was
Skippers Road, a narrow, winding, and exhilaratingly treacherous pathway
that twists and turns for about 16 ½ miles through Skippers Canyon.
Carved and blasted right out of the solid rock by Chinese laborers,
Skippers Road took 22 years to complete, and it doesn’t look much
different today than when it was first created. In most places it’s too
narrow for vehicles to pass each other, there are no guardrails, and the
drop-offs leave absolutely no room for error.
Beautiful, yes, but also risky. Unless you’re a thrill seeker, leave
the driving to the tour guides, and keep in mind that car rental
companies probably won’t allow you to explore Skippers Road with their
vehicles.
6. Halsema Highway (Philippines)
Located on the island of Luzon, the Halsema Highway runs through the
Central Cordillera Valley in the Philippines from Baguio to Bontoc and
farther on toward Tabuk and Tuguegarao. Landslides and rock falls are
common, often stranding motorists for long periods of time. Many
portions of the road are still unpaved, although work is supposedly in
progress to bring about some improvements, and there are plenty of
drop-offs that are steep enough to kill you.
Foggy conditions paired with the lack of much-needed guardrails in
certain areas only complicate the Halsema Highway’s already dangerous
conditions. Local accounts also indicate that buses traversing this
route are less than considerate when it comes to road rules, so watch
your step. Photo:
http://www.dirjournal.com
5. Patiopoulo – Perdikaki Road (Greece)
In the mountainous Agrafa region of Greece, the route connecting
Patiopoulo and Perdikaki is an unnerving example of roads that require
constant attentiveness and care from their travelers. Potholes and
loose, slippery gravel weaken a driver’s control while distractions from
heavy traffic, pedestrians, and livestock create additional hazards.
Many sections are very steep and narrow, demanding the utmost of
caution.
But there’s more madness involved here – the road apparently includes sharp drop-offs on not just one, but on
both sides. And there aren’t any barriers. Strictly for your driving pleasure, of course.
4. Luxor – al – Hurghada Road (Egypt)
The road connecting Luxor (the site of the ancient city of Thebes)
with the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Hurghada is paved, marked, and
appears to be relatively safe. However, bandits, terrorist attempts to
undermine the tourism industry, and frightened drivers have all combined
to turn this route into a major nightmare.
The violent attacks along this road are dangerous enough by
themselves, but what sometimes makes it even worse is the fact that most
people who drive at night don’t use headlights for fear of announcing
their approach. Yes, it could be a great way to avoid unseen enemies,
but it also invites other disasters in the form of head-on collisions.
Invisibility might save you from one threat, but there’s a good
chance it will deliver you into the hands of another. Consider buying
some of those night vision goggles if you plan to drive this road after
dark.
3. Fairy Meadows Road (Pakistan)
Situated at the base of Pakistan’s 26,660-foot Nanga Parbat, Fairy
Meadows is a picturesque destination for backpackers, photographers, and
mountain climbers who want to get closer to the enormous peak and enjoy
the scenery. Getting to Fairy Meadows, however, is not such an
attractive experience. Part of the trip involves surviving a 6-mile,
hour-long drive on an unstable gravel road hacked out of the barren
hills.
From Raikot Bridge to the village of Tato, this ‘road’ offers the
motorist all the insane features of your typical mountainside dirt
trail. It’s narrow, unpaved, steep, and of course there aren’t any
guardrails to prevent your Jeep from rolling down into the gorge. You
can’t even drive it all the way to Fairy Meadows; the last section has
to be covered by bicycle or on foot.
A great road for adventurers, Fairy Meadows Road is definitely not for the faint of heart.
2. Nairobi – Nakuru – Eldoret Highway (Kenya)
As anyone who’s ever driven a car before knows, a road can qualify as
dangerous without having muddy, hairpin turns thousands of feet in the
air. People die on roads around the world because of other irresponsible
drivers, and that’s why this road in Kenya made it onto the list. It
looks like a decent place to drive, but speeding, unsafe passing
attempts, and drunk driving have inflated the death toll to over 300
every year.
In other words, you might actually have a better chance of surviving on one of those precarious mountain roads.
1. Old Yungas Road (Bolivia)
According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel, the
title for World’s Most Dangerous Road goes to Bolivia’s old Yungas Road,
which twists and turns for about 40 miles between the capital city of
La Paz and the town of Coroico in the Yungas jungle region. If other
roads seem risky, the old Yungas Road is nothing less than a suicide
mission.
