o you seek thrill and love driving? Maybe driving across some of the most dangerous roads in the world might spice things up a bit for you. Roads that account for numerous deaths, accidents and natural disasters are not uncommon throughout the world. In no particular order, travel down 10 of the most dangerous roads.
1. North Yungas Road, Bolivia
No road can be compared when talking about the most dangerous roads in the world. The North Yungas Road in Bolivia often referred to as the ‘Road of Death’, is frequently cited as being one of the most dangerous roads in the world because of its incredibly narrow, 12-foot width, which is continuously barraged with fog and rain. The road circles the Cordillera Oriental Mountain in Bolivia.
It is not uncommon to see buses and cars fall off the edge. Any wrong turn or aggressive attempt to overtake could spell disaster. Due to the elevation change on the mountain, fallen vehicles can plummet anywhere from 4,000 to 15,000 feet.
2. James Dalton Highway, Alaska
If you’ve ever seen a picture of the James Dalton Highway in Alaska from above, it might be difficult to understand why it is considered to be so dangerous. Being that the majority of the road is unpaved (primarily gravel), driving on it can be exceptionally risky; even during the best of weather conditions.
When winter sets in, the road gets increasingly slippery and hazardous. The surrounding tundra is prone to large snowdrifts, avalanches, and completely covered sections of the road. The James Dalton Highway is considered so dangerous that even some ice road truckers refuse to use it. To top it off, there are barely any facilities along the 414-mile road and nothing for 240 miles. That includes gas stations, medical centers, restaurants, and hotels.
3. Guoliang Tunnel Road, China
With no pathway connecting the village of Guoliang to the rest of China, 13 villagers chiseled a 4,000-footpath into China’s Taihang Mountains. During the 1970s, the footpath was slightly increased to allow vehicle traffic and was coined by the Guoliang Tunnel Road. Several decades later, the makeshift roads are still the only access to the village. Even though the area is heavily traveled by tourists, little to no effort has been put into improving the dangerous path.
The Guoliang Tunnel lacks street lamps, barriers or barricades, making it one of the most dangerous roads to travel. Drivers have to be extremely cautious, as any little mistake can lead to death. Locals refer to The Guoliang Tunnel as “the road that does not tolerate mistakes.”
4. Skippers Canyon Road, New Zealand
This is one of the few roads in the world that actually requires a permit for you to drive on it. The road is extremely windy and narrow, leading to a real hair-raising trip.
Skippers Canyon Road will have you praying that you don’t run into another travel heading in the opposite direction. While some say this particular road is still easily traveled, many have experienced bad accidents on their travels.
5. Karakoram Highway, Pakistan
The Highway of Karakoram spans for 800 miles and infamous for its history of natural disasters. On this road, you can just as easily run into a landslide, heavy snow, flooding, or even an avalanche. Karakoram Highway in Pakistan has been referred to by some as the eighth world wonder.
Not surprisingly, the road sees frequent fatalities. Bus’ tumbling into a gorge after a sharp turn, or landslides hitting tourists’ vehicles are not uncommon. The road is so dangerous it has a record of more than 1000 workers dying during its construction.
6. Jalalabad-Kabul Road, Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s Kabul-Jalalabad Road has developed a reputation for unexplained deaths and abundance of dangerous activity. Car crashes, suicide bombings, and kidnappings, are all incidents that have happened throughout the years. To top it all off, the road is known for Taliban-led activities that lead to the death of its prowlers.
Kabul-Jalalabad Road is a narrow two-lane road almost without enough room for cars to pass, but this does nothing to slow down drivers who frequent the trail. Cars whiz through the major trade route at death-defying speeds.
7. Zoji La Pass, India
The Zoji La Pass in the Himalayas is 11,575 feet up in the mountains. As a one-trail road, the Zoji La Pass hugs some of the tallest mountains in the world, connecting Kashmir Valley to Ladakh.
Moreover, the snow that typically covers Zoji La is usually about 15-24 feet deep and often takes up to two months to clear.
8. Los Caracoles Pass, Chile
Since this road is covered in snow for most of the year, it’s closure period is quite lengthy. When it’s not, you have to drive as slowly as possible to avoid going over the edge.
Surrounded by spectacular views such as the Aconcagua peak, the Los Caracoles Pass is a magnificent vista, but a stomach-churning road. The stretch is filled with blind corners and sharp turns for miles on end.
9. Sichuan-Tibet Highway, China
Sichuan-Tibet Highway in China is elevated as high as 13,123 feet off the ground. Complete with rock avalanches and landslides, the dangerous road stretches for 1,330 miles between Chengdu, Sichuan, and Lhasa, Tibet.
The trail is so complicated and steep that a trip on the highway can last for as long as 15 days.
10. Stelvio Pass Road, Italy
The picturesque Stelvio Pass Road comes with a stunning view that might make you think nothing could go wrong. Many vehicle enthusiast use this road as a proving ground for their new exotic car; which if you enjoy driving at all, can see why this would be extremely fun in a high end car. However, its scenic views and beautiful hair pin turns come at a cost. The road has several high and heavy winds that can cause terrible ghastly accidents for the unsuspecting drivers that ply this route.
There you have it! We’ve made it to the other side of the worlds most dangerous roads in one piece. If just reading about the roads doesn’t do it for you, try giving them a drive and let us know how it was! Is there any road on the list you’re particularly looking forward to travelling?
