10 most dangerous roads in the world
For thousands of years roads have given a means for safer and much more efficient movement of products and people, but as you will see in a moment this is not forever the situation. While some of the roads on our list are heavily traveled thoroughfares other people are remote, winding, and narrow. Whatever the case may be though, the ten most dangerous roads on the planet will likely convince you that walking isn’t really that bad after all.
Commonwealth Avenue, Philippines
To locals, it’s known as “Killer Highway” due to the high number of casualties and fatalities -- a large number of deaths per year actually -- that derive from the heavy volume of traffic. A poor drainage system (which leads to heavy flooding during storms), numerous motorbikes -- that tour buses can’t see -- as well as pedestrians walking nearby help bring about the number crazy quantity of accidents.
Guoliang Tunnel Road, China
The literal English translation for your mile-long Guoliang Tunnel Rd is “Road that tolerates no mistakes.” Built by 13 local villagers within the Taihang Mountains (many of whom died during construction), the chiseled mountain tunnel measures only 15ft high by 12ft wide but rocks insane views of the Chinese landscape through 30 “windows” which were cut out of the cliff.
Skippers Canyon Road, New Zealand
The Skippers Canyon Road, situated in New Zealand, is unbelievably scary as it’s made from a very narrow decline in the middle of a sheer cliff face. The street is all made of Sharp turns and steep inclinations. This winding road actually needs a special permit they are driving. If you do manage to get permission though, be prepared for a slippery challenge and all the best . if you run into someone eminating from the other direction. Currently this road is popular mostly among extreme tourists seeking adventure and adrenaline.
Dalton Highway, Alaska If we've learned many methods from Ice Road Truckers about the History Channel, it's that the roads in Alaska suck. Feel like getting away from civilization? Than the is the highway for you. Few roads on earth offer the degree of isolation as The James W. Dalton Highway. Be sure to pack plenty of supplies with there being only three villages along this 666km road through the wilderness. Linking Fairbanks and oil fields to the north, huge trucks are its main traffic. Definitely right of way is one of road rules; the opposite is taking survival supplies and understanding how to use them.
Zojila Pass, Kasmir, India This strip of rock isn't place for a Sunday drive. It’s better suited to a Mars Rover than any manned vehicle. It’s 9km long, about 3,500m above sea level and supplies an important link between Ladakh and Kashmir, so you’ll must dodge the numerous livestock. In addition to that, vicious winds and heavy snowfall often impact the region.
Russian Siberian Path to Yakutsk
This is the official federal-government highway to Yakutsk, and it is also the only one to have there. As there are hardly any other roads, the intrepid motorists are doomed to wallow on this dirt, or stand in week-long 100 km car line-ups (people say women even gave birth there while waiting). This may turn into a major humanitarian disaster during rainy spells, once the usual clay covering from the road turns into impassable mud blanket, swallowing trucks and tractors alike. For the time being the city has to partly airlift food items.
Stelvio Pass, Italy
At 9,045ft in the Alps, the Stelvio Pass is amongst the most scenic drives on the planet -- the views are immense and insane. But appreciating those vistas cost you; the 180-degree corners are dangerous, the concrete barriers low, and winter brings icy roads and slick conditions. One wrong move could send you over the cliffs.
Kabul-Jalalabad Highway, Afghanistan
In “the Valley of Death,” this notorious road is highly trafficked by the Taliban and attacks are de rigueur -
- so don’t expect a simple, breezy drive. Even still, the narrow mountain passes very often seem to be full of oversized freight trucks are just as frightening.
The best way to Fairy Meadows, Pakistan
Although it may seem harmless, The Way to Fairy Meadows has nothing to do with Pixie Dust or Fairies and is also basically a typical mountainside dirt trail. It is really an extremely narrow and dangerous 10 km stretch of road top to Nanga Parbat or The Killer Mountain in Pakistan. Fairy Meadows is a nearby valley with serene views of the huge mountain. The gravel road has not undergone any repair because it was built.
Old Yungas Road, Bolivia
We’d rather hitchhike the Highway to Hell than take our chances on Old Yungas Rd (aka: “The Death Road”), considered probably the most dangerous in the world. The 40-mile stretch linking La Paz to Coroico hugs cliffs that overlook a sprawling canyon and has so many sharp turns that you’d think drivers would putter along at 10mph instead of take a chance. They don’t. Over 200 people per year fall to their death in trucks, cars, and public buses.