In 1969, this nice asphalt road was built between two Afghan cities. Since then, the road has not been maintained and has deteriorated, and thus has made it onto our list as one of the most dangerous roads in the world. But, the road isn’t only dangerous because of its poor quality.
Thanks to the road being so narrow, crashes are fairly common whether it’s between two buses that aren’t able to make it past one another or trucks that miss a turn and drive over the side of the cliff accidentally. Definitely one reason for there being so many accidents is the lack of speed limit here. Which quite literally, drives people over the edge.
Zoji La Pass
You know a road is dangerous when it’s off limits during the winter time. Zoji la pass takes two months following winter to be cleared. The high mountain pass is in India in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. While the road obviously looks dangerous, what you can’t see is how high the road is which is the real reason for its danger.
It has an elevation of over 11,000 feet. Besides that, the mountain pass is very narrow and has loads of steep drops. The road would be better as a walking trail rather than a road for cars. Simply said, this road isn’t for those with weak stomachs.
Atlantic Road
There’s no doubt that this Norwegian road is surrounded by some stunning scenery. But, with those roller-coaster like dips and curves, it’s a road that only the most adventurous of thrillseekers will want to take on. The most dangerous part of the road are the bridges which are scattered throughout the 8.3 kilometer road.
The road has a total of eight bridges, some of which have pretty steep dips and bends. Take that and combine it with Norway’s severe weather and winter storms, and you’re looking at a pretty petrifying situation.
BR-116
There are many things in Brazil which are beautiful, and this highway is one of them. Also known as the Highway of Death, it runs parallel to the coast and carries on for more than 2,700 miles. It is the busiest and most important highway in the country. Most of the road is paved, which is nice, and offers stunning panoramic views. But, the road is also one of the most dangerous in the world and is jam-packed with nerve-racking obstacles.
A lot of the road has curves and mountainous sections that require 100% complete focus to avoid an accident. But, the dangers of the road doesn’t end just there. Along the merciless route, there is risk of being attacked by gangs and armed bandits. Because many parts of the road are remote, you won’t have much luck getting in touch with the police. Even if you do manage to reach them, it won’t be a while until they make it to you, during which the gang members will already have you under their full control. On top of this, it’s also the worst road in the world for the sexual exploitation of children. So, yea, not your average driving experience.
Stelvio Pass
Lush green and snow peaked mountains alongside one another? The Stelvio Pass is a very scenic mountain pass in northern Italy bordering Switzerland. This road in the Italian Alps is one of the highest roads in Europe with an average elevation of over 9,000 feet. As you can see by the picture, the road has many hairpin turns, 48 to be exact! In some places, the road has a small stone wall as a barrier, but in a lot of parts it doesn’t have anything.
It’s only open during the summer, but even then, it’s possible to meet snowy conditions on the road which of course heighten the danger of the road even more.