North Yungas Road, Bolivia
Not only is this road windy, but it’s got a pretty cute local nickname: “the Path of Death.” How about no.
As recently as 2006, the stats suggested that between 200-300 people died yearly, taking this road.
Pusbio, Italy
Never mind cars, countless bicyclists have lost their lives taking a dive off the side of this steep and narrow road in Northern Italy. Known for it’s 52 tunnels, this road used to be used by mules and is now strictly used by cars; bikes are now banned from using this route.
James Dalton Highway, Alaska
Never mind the fact that this is an ice road, where traction can be an issue if you don’t have the right tires, there’s something worse waiting for you – stone storms. Yep, the wind gets so strong that it flings stones and gravel at you.
It’s also the most isolated route in the US, with only three towns along the way, and no hospitals. Locals suggest you bring survival gear if you’re gonna drive this road.
Highway One, Mexico
This dangerous road runs between Tijuana and Sand Diego. In addition to the poor conditions and desolate landscape, there’s also the drug runners and bandits to worry about.
Stelvio Pass, Italy
This perilous road crosses the jagged peaks of the Alps and the road is steep both ways, making for a treacherous drive. It’s a popular road for cyclists and tour riders, but it’s also a bitch to navigate.
Cotopaxi Volcano Road, Ecuador
Named for a nearby dormant volcano, this road is harrowing. There are potholes, slippery slopes and bridge less streams that turn into flash floods in a second, not to mention landslides and the occasional tremor from the volcano.
The Pan American Highway, North and South America
This is actually a series of roads that runs from Alaska all the way down to the tip of Argentina, spanning over 48,000 miles. Here, you pick your poison – between isolated stretches, bad roads, and narrow passes in North America, you get bandits, steep drop offs, animals and weather in the South. It’s a dangerous trek.
The A44, England
This is a highly trafficked and congested road that has one of the highest rates of accidents in the world. In most cases, there’s cars being driven off the road, if not head on collisions. Yikes.
The A682, England
Much like in other parts of the world, England’s got it’s own steep and winding roads, with hare pin turns and blind corners. Most of the latest casualties have come from motorcycles trying to ride the mountain like a roller coaster.
The Sichuan-Tibet Highway, Tibet
Besides all the turns and steep drop offs, this road also requires you to drive through shallow rivers (at times) and raging rapids at others.
The Perdikaki-Patiopoulo, Greece
This famous road is full of stunning views and jack-knife turns. If the narrow roads and steep drop offs don’t get you, then the mist and fog, as well as the lack of any light at night, will take you out.
The A726, UK
It looks deceptively simple, but this is one of the most dangerous routes in the world. The road is in disrepair, there’s plenty of twisty turns and blind spots and people drive it far too fast, causing head on collisions.
The Barton Road, Australia
This is one of the busiest roads in Australia and the congestion, potholes and wildlife cause some serious accidents. There are no barriers on either side of the road, or between the opposite lanes and highway hypnosis causes some casualties when driving.
Luxor-al-Hurghada, Egypt
Right off the bat, on this route you’re dealing with sandy and sunbaked conditions, but it’s not nature that’ll take you down; it’s people. This route is notorious for bands of robbers that attack and steal from cars, or the occasional terrorist attack.
Also, the locals don’t like using headlights at night, or driving on the correct side of the road.. so good luck.
Fairy Meadows/Nanga Parbat Pass, Pakistan
This road isn’t even maintained, and it snakes its way though the mountains. It’s slippery it dry conditions due to the gravel and dirt, and even worse in wet.
It’s easy to slide off the side of a cliff, into a fiery wreck below.
The Halsema Highway, The Philippines
This road is 7,400 miles above sea level, and the altitude is serious factor when driving. If that doesn’t get you, then the rainy conditions cause slippery roads and landslides.
The Tarok Road, Taiwan
Another mountainside road, this is a pretty impressive feat of engineering. Due to the nearby vegetation and fast moving river gorge, humidity and fog are factors, to the point that visibility is difficult in some stretches.
The Guoliang Tunnel Road, China
This is one of the worlds longest tunnels and is so dangerous that even locals won’t take it, no matter how convenient.
What’s even more insane is that the area is so remote, that power tools weren’t used. All this was carved out by hammer and chisel.
Canning Stock Route, Australia
This is another extremely lonely and isolated road. It’s completely devoid of maintenance and is simply a mud road through the outback. On a good day, it’ll take you 3 weeks to drive it from end to end, and along the way there’s no where to stop. You’ll need supplies and knowledge of how to fix your car, if it breaks down.
Jalalabad Road, Afghanistan
For this dangerous road, there’s a lot of things that’ll getcha. There’s tons of twists and turns, creepily lit tunnels and most of all, it’s under the control of the Taliban, so terrorism is a huge possibility. Plus it was the site of a huge accident back in the 80’s where a truck exploded in the tunnel and no one really sought to make sure the tunnel was still structurally sound.
The Rohtang Pass, India
This road has probably the most metal name out of all of the ones on this list. Rohtang in Hindi means “Pile of Corpses,” as weather conditions, low visibility, landslides and military action keep this road a danger to traverse.
Skipper’s Canyon Road, New Zealand
Sure, it’s great to look at, but don’t mistake the beauty of the road for compassion. The untended gravel roads are a nightmare to drive, especially when the entire route is a narrow path, with high cliffs and no guardrails.
The Himalayan Roads
Between the narrow roadway, the low overhangs and the sharp angles and turns makes this road nearly impossible to navigate.
Atlantic Ocean Road, Norway
This fucked up highway is the only route some residents of a Norwegian archipelago have to reach the mainland. Most of the road is a narrow track over the water, with waves that crash over the roadway on the regular, then you have this swooping on ramp that is slick in the wet Norwegian weather most of the time.
Count me out.
Tian Men Shan Big Gate Road, China
Looking like a giant dragon from above, this road is insane. With plenty of blind curves and no place to stop along the way, there’s been plenty of casualties on this route to a sacred arch at the top of a mountain.
Count me out of any of these.
