Risky Roads
When people think of dangerous roads they normally think of steep inclines, sharp turns, and plenty of potholes. But a select few may wish this was the case.
Some people know truly was dangerous roads are, from narrow mountain pathways to predator hunting grounds. Read more to take a look at some of the worst roads to drive on.
Cahills Crossing – Australia
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People often forget that a lot of Australia is a barren and untamed wild country. A good example of this is Cahills Crossing. The road itself is safe, but not the creatures that hide where the road is submerged.
Part of the road is usually flooded and covered with water from a nearby river. Crocodiles love to sit in the water and if your car is swept up by the current, you might be their next meal.
Ridi Road – Central Nepal
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If you get carsick easily, don’t ever drive on the Ridi Road in Central Nepal. There are lots of narrow turns that can have you swerving off the dusty edge.
If you lose your concentration for a mere second you could go off. The utmost attention on the road is required to not go off the edge. This can be difficult due to the beautiful Kali Gandaki River in view at all times.
Le Passage Du Gois – France
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Le Passage Du Gois runs over 2.5 miles long and connected Noirmoutier with the Gulf of Burnef. During the day it looks deceptively easy to drive over but it can be very dangerous once the tide rises and the road becomes submerged into 13 feet of water.
Towers have been built so anyone stranded on the road can take refuge while they wait for rescue to come. The road used to be much more dangerous when people still used horse-drawn carriages.
Peruvian Andes Road – Peru
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The roads in the Peruvian Andes aren’t to be ventured on lightly. They have many gorgeous views but they also have plenty of steep dropoffs with little warning. The government hasn’t assigned much money to spend on safety fences on the most dangerous paths.
Only single vehicles can fit on the road at a time and it makes it so much harder for oncoming vehicles to pass by. If two vehicles meet at a particularly narrow point one will have to back up for the other.
Guoliang Tunnel Road – China
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The Guoliang Tunnel Road is situated in the Taihang Mountains in China. The town of Guoliang only had one dangerous route into their town before they managed to carve their own road out of the side of the mountain.
It took five years but they managed to finish the road. It’s a great place for tourism but the amateur job means that it’s a dangerous road with narrow and sharp turns and sheer drops.
Kishtwar Road – India
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India may have plenty of dangerous roads but the Kwishtar road in the Jammu region may be the most dangerous. There are no rails or fences to stop vehicles plunging off the roads into the valley below.
Certain points in the road can only fit one car at a time and if there is heavy rain then landslides can occur. Some call the road the “Almost Killer” and it has plenty of gravel and loose stones to make the road have little grip.
Vitim River Bridge – Siberia, Russia
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Siberia’s roads are already icy and tricky to navigate, but one particular road is even more dangerous. This is the Vitim River Bridge, it’s nearly 1,900 feet long and is 50 feet above the river. The danger lies in the fact that the bridge is only six feet wide and has no rails.
The old train bridge that’s a relic from the Soviet era has rotten planks so people driving have to be cautious when they drive across. Slow and steady is the way to get across safely.
Atlantic Road – Norway
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The Atlantic Road in Norway looks beautiful. It spans across numerous ilands but the drive can turn dangerous quickly. The road itself is smooth, has plenty of space and even guard rails. So why is it so dangerous?
The issue that arises is the weather that Norway can sometimes have. Wave will crash onto the road so driving on it will be a challenge even for an experienced driver.
Rohtang Pass – India
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Here’s another dangerous road in India. The Rohtang Pass in the Himalayas is considered a very dangerous road. The biggest problems drivers can face are the frequent landslides that plague the path.
The weather conditions on the road are terrible with it being over 13,000 feet above sea level. A new road is under construction and will be an alternative path to this dangerous road.
Seven Mile Bridge – Florida
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Introduced to the public in 1982, Florida’s Seven Mile Bridge provides a smooth, long drive from the Middle Keys to the Lower Keys. However, Florida has some of the most unpredictable weather conditions in the country. That alone can make this bridge extremely dangerous.
Florida summers can be some of the harshest in the country. Being stranded on the Seven Mile Bridge amid that heat can lead to disaster. This was especially true in the pre-mobile phone days. Also, one has to keep in mind that the region is very prone to hurricanes. Being stuck on the bridge when a hurricane strikes means making it to the other side a treacherous journey.
Ancient Thera Road – Greece
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Greece’s Ancient Thera Road can be both beautiful and deadly. While its danger levels don’t necessarily reach those of the most dangerous roads listed so far in South America or Asia, one still wouldn’t want to underestimate this windy mountainside road on the island of Santorini, especially when it comes to its unguarded 22 hairpin switchbacks.
A little focus and attention can make a trip down this road completely harmless. However, keeping your eyes on the road can be tough when you’re face to face with a beautiful sea view. Many accidents on the road come down to reckless driving and drivers not paying attention to the road. The road is closed from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. Before the regulations, night accidents were quite common.
Pilcomayo Canyon – Bolivia
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While it doesn’t sport a nickname like ‘Road of Death,’ it is one of the most dangerous roads on the planet. It is a road that’ll put even the most confident driver’s courage to the test. Many cars have been lost on this dirt mountain path.
Seeing as most of the narrow road makes it impossible for two cars to pass each other, only experts at driving in reverse should attempt to rough it through Bolivia’s Pilcomayo Canyon. It isn’t just the neglected conditions of the road that’ll give drivers a hard time, but also the amount of fog that can settle on the road. When driving through Pilcomayo Canyon, one can’t afford to be careless.
La Rumorosa Highway – Mexico
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While the La Rumorosa Highway in Baja California, Mexico is tame when compared to some of the most dangerous roads found in South America, it is still dangerous for unprepared drivers. This is especially true for visitors from North America who expect to find condition equal to roads found in America.
This two-lane mountain pass is alive with steep falls and random hairpins that can easily catch a novice driver off guard. However, it will make even the most seasoned driver feel uneasy with its steep drops in the road located an an elevation of 4,042 feet. To make matters even more nerve wrecking, the road isn’t exactly wide. This means that passing up slower trucks can be quite risky. Try to attempt to do so might leave you in a world of regret.
Zoji La Pass – India
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To successfully get from one end of India’s Zoji La Pass to the other, motorists need two things: a reliable set of wheels and the ability to give complete and unencumbered attention to the road. The frightening path is snug up against some of the tallest mountains in the world in the western Himalayas. That’d be the last place to panic and lose focus.
One of Zoji La’s biggest fatal flaws is that sometimes the road doesn’t even look like road at all. Instead, it more closely resembles a small crumbling line in the dirt. As if that wasn’t bad enough, things get more dangerous in the rain, as the road turns into complete mush. The conditions can get so bad that even outdoor vehicles can struggle up the path. Luckily, vehicle flow is prohibited during the winter due to heavy snowfall.
Gotthard Pass – Switzerland
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While elements of danger exists in the hairpin twists and turns and the steep fall that waits over the ledge of Gotthard Pass, the cobblestone road is set nearly 7,000 feet before a beautiful Swiss backdrop. Waiting on the top of the pass is the National Gotthard Museum where visitors can learn all about the rich history of the Alpine road.
Today, Gotthard Pass is a treasured location amid tourist and Instagram influencers. Visitors travel from far and wide to get a picture of themselves with the pass and the illustrious Switzerland wilderness in the background. Let’s hope that they drive carefully when going up there.
North Yungas Road – Bolivia
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The world is jam packed with dangerous roads that’ll rattle your nerves with ease. But the North Yungas Road in Bolivia is widely considered the world’s most dangerous one. It has been fittingly nicknamed “the Road of Death” and it’s no mystery why. Anywhere between 200 and 300 people a year turn onto this road and never see the end of it.
One of the things that makes the nearly 50-mill route between La Paz and La Cumbre Pass so dangerous is the tropical weather brought about by the region. Drivers often find themselves cruising through heavy rains and thick fog. However, bad weather is nothing compared to how extremely narrow the road is. Squeezing by an oncoming car sends the danger levels soaring and it’s completely unavoidable when on the North Yungas Road.
Pass to Kondaveedu Fort – India
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If one ventures as far out as the Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh, India, they’ll definitely need to check out the Kondaveedu Fort. The ancient hill fortress definitely brings to life a time in Indian history that is long gone. However, don’t think getting there comes without its challenges. You’ll need to travel up and then back down the precarious pass to Kondaveedu Fort.
The steep hairpin pass is a picturesque, but far from harmless. The thin road features 13 mind-bendingly sharp turns and one very steep incline. Given the massive tourist attraction at the top of the hill, the pass is often jam packed with vehicles going up and coming down. This will definitely leave for a nerve shattering drive.
South Sudanese Roads – Sudan
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While South Sudan has its share of paved highways, some of the country’s major roads are still used in the form of dirt paths. While these roads aren’t perched up on high mountain tops, they still can pose a significant amount of danger. This is especially true during the country’s rainy season.
Once hit with rain, these dirt paths transform into muddy swamps that’ll render useless even the most equipped outdoor vehicles. Often times, one can only travel on them at about four miles an hour. But slow speeds still don’t stop deep ruts from trapping supply trucks and ambulances. When traveling these roads, motorists must also consider that roadside bandits are, according to the OSAC, relatively common.
Roads Outside Lae – Papua New Guinea
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Papua New Guinea has one of the highest crime rates on the planet and the risk it poses definitely spills onto the country’s roads. However, crime will only be half the worry for the brave driver behind the wheel. In a country that’s the size of France, there are only three roads for use and each is worn by poverty and missing tarmac.
Like many dangerous, unpaved roads around the world, the rainy season also plays a significant role in hindering a driver’s experience as these already bumpy roads are reduced to muky swamps. Drivers can even find themselves crossing shallow rivers as well. This means a heavy-duty, off-road ready vehicle is ideal for traversing these badlands.
Trans-Siberian Highway – Russia
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While the so-called Trans-Siberian Highway holds deep beauty, it is an unforgiving path that probably best traversed in a tough off-road vehicle with four-wheel drive. This is due to the highway’s vastness and how ill-maintained many of its stretches are. While some stretches mirror any paved, modern highway road, most of it is made of bumpy dirt paths that barely resemble paths at all.
To make matters worse, the paths can become unstable and slippery when rained upon. This means traveling down the highway can actually be safer during the freezing winter. However, during this time it’s still far from safe. The Trans-Siberian Highway is actually the unofficial name given to the network of thoroughfares that run the 6,800-mile width of Russia from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok. Still, we’d think it’s better than driving over frozen lakes and rivers as some do in parts of Siberia.
Passo Della Berga – Italy
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The Passo Della Berga located in the Italian province of Brescia likely won’t fail in taking your breath away. The historic road has all the greenery and forested hills that one can ask for. However, it also has a dark side. Partially paved and partially gravel, the high mountain road flows alongside an unguarded ledge. Reckless driving can result in an up close and personal meetings with that lush greenery on the 5,000-feet of slopes below.
The road dates back to the days of the Ancient Romans and has spent a significant amount of time serving as a military road. Over dozens of generations, the Passo Della Berga has garnered quite a devastating reputation for all the accidents on its ridges. However, today’s laws and speed limits have reduced the number of accidents significantly.
Paso de los Libertadores – Argentina/Chile Border
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Novice drivers should probably hop in the backseat when it comes to driving the Paso de los Libertadores. While it’s all sound and smooth driving on the Argentina side, things get dangerous when crossing into Chile. That’s when seemingly harmless highway turns into one of the most winding roads in the worlds.
The two lane road takes on the look of a serpent slithering down a mountainside. One will need to double their concentration while driving down this path, especially since it’s on a trade route. This means plenty of diesel trucks can be found on this unguarded pass. This is a road that will definitely put the nerves of motorists to the test.
Transfagarasan Road – Romania
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Located between Transylvania and Wallachia is Romania’s Transfagarasan Road. Despite running through some of the country’s most stunning landscape, it has been deemed one of the most difficult roads to drive through. This definitely has something to do with the reported accident rate increasing with each and every passing year.
The Transfafarasan hits drivers with a deadly combination of a steep drops, sharp turns and tunnels. If one underestimates the European road and starts fiddling with the radio or checking text messages, their as good as done for. Despite, the road’s high accident count, droves of tourists flock to the site hoping to capture the roads beauty on camera.
Bundok Pulag – Philippines
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The Philippines has no shortage of dangerous roads throughout the country. The Southeast Asian nation is home to Commonwealth Avenue, a.k.a. the “Killer Highway,” that expands up to a bustling 18 lanes. However, the road up the more than 8,000-foot Bundok Pulag mountain on Luzon Island has the face of recognized danger. If you aren’t an expert of driving on unpaved mountain roads, you might want to take a pass before heading on this nightmare.
The Bundok Pulag gives drivers a bumpy and rocky path to struggle through. To make things all the more nerve wracking, guardrails are nowhere to be found between the road and a steep fall. If you plan on testing your driving skills on this mountain road, make sure there is no rain in the forecast. Once the roads are drenched, driving is pretty much an impossibility.
Skyfall Road – Scotland
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Skyfall Road recently gained fame being featured in the 2012 James Bond movie Skyfall. Despite the pastoral road’s extremely beautiful surroundings, narrow narrow width lends it as one of the world’s most dangerous places for drivers. It has a number of hairpins in the road and no shortage of blind spots.
The danger scale shoots up when this already twisting road turns into a mountainous path that leaves a driver with little room between an unguarded fall and the rough mountainside. That alone calls for drivers to remain completely focused. While many 007 fans may be tempted to take a drive on this scenic pass to Loch Etive, they should reconsider if they aren’t seasoned behind the wheel.