Only the lazy does not scold Russian roads. And for the most part - they deservedly scold, because motorists have to deal with inevitable traffic jams, annoying pits and bumps. But these inconveniences are nothing compared to some of the the most dangerous roads in the world.
Traffic safety statistics were last published by the World Health Organization in 2015 and are projections of global traffic conditions up to 2020.
10. M5 "Ural", Russia
Since we started talking about Russian roads, we will start the rating with just one of these. According to the public center "For the Safety of Russian Roads," the mortality rate on the federal highway M5 "Ural" for the past year was 2409 people, and 12,566 were injured.
Due to its sad performance, this route tops the list of the most dangerous roads in Russia in 2018.
9. Pass Stelvio, Italy
Top Gear once called this road “the most expensive in the world”, But this does not mean that it is not dangerous. The picturesque mountain pass, located in the Eastern Alps at an altitude of 2757 meters above sea level, has 75 sharp turns (“hairpins” as they are called in everyday life). This is a popular destination for thrill-seekers - cyclists and motorcyclists who want to show off their skills and throw more adrenaline into their blood.
While this 21.5-kilometer route is well maintained, it is easy to get injured or even say goodbye to fast cornering or risky overtaking. Most often, motorcyclists are killed on the Stelvio Pass.
8. Kenning Stoke Route 66, Australia
Some roads are so far from human habitation that if something happens to the driver, it will take a long time for help. Kenning Stock Road is one of the most deserted roads in the world. It stretches for 1,850 kilometers, passes through wild places - the Small Sandy Desert - and was originally intended for driving livestock.
Travelers venturing down this route should be well prepared. They need to grab a large amount of food and drive a reliable car, preferably four-wheel drive. Traveling alone on Kenning Stock Road is strongly discouraged as there is nowhere to wait for support in an emergency.
7. Dalton Highway, USA
This highway in Alaska is another deserted route that will test the willpower and nerves of even the most experienced drivers. Even the length of this highway is rather ominous - 666 km.
The Dalton Highway was constructed as a construction material supply route for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. Drivers who venture along this route must stock up on food, fuel, and even a survival kit before driving. After all, the nearest medical centers are located very far away.
Unfavorable weather conditions (very strong winds and frequent snowfalls) make the 666-kilometer route an ordeal not only for car owners, but also for drivers of large trucks.If the winds of wandering take you to Alaska, you know where not to go.
6. Tunnel Guoliang, China
This structure, literally cut into the "side" of the mountain, was created in the 1970s to allow people to get to the city of Guoliang through the Taihangshan mountain range.
Several workers died during the construction, which is why the tunnel was nicknamed "the road that does not tolerate mistakes." About 30 windows were made in the tunnel - roughly cut holes in the rock needed for better illumination.
Drivers (and you can only drive here by bike or a small car) are advised to drive very slowly so that they can safely make their way through the snake turns and not fall into one of the windows. But in any case, this eerie, claustrophobic tunnel will make even the most courageous and calm people sweat with fear more than once.
5. Skippers Canyon, New Zealand
It is one of only two roads in New Zealand that is not covered by car rental insurance. And to travel on it requires a special permit. And by looking at the route, it's pretty easy to see why.
Despite the many scenic views, the road through Skippers Canyon is extremely narrow, and one wrong maneuver could send a car driving along the edge of the cliff on a fatal flight down.
Worse, this 26 km gravel road is so narrow that vehicles are often forced back up to 3 km to allow other vehicles traveling in the opposite direction to pass safely.
4. Road Kabul-Jalalabad, Afghanistan
The fact that the 64-kilometer road between Kabul and Jalalabad is frequently attacked by the Taliban is not the worst that is known about it.
Obviously, ambush threats and suicide bombing are pretty bad things, but the long route also brings its share of danger. Most Afghan drivers have a blatant disregard for their own safety and drive the tight bends of this narrow mountain road at breakneck speeds, leading to many fatal accidents every year. Local authorities have even stopped keeping track of them.
3. BR-116, Brazil
This 4,385-kilometer stretch in Brazil is considered the second longest and the first in the number of accidents in the country.
The route has earned the ominous nickname “highway of death” due to its astonishingly high accident rate. It runs alongside very steep cliffs and through tunnels, and some sections of the highway are subject to unstable weather conditions and high winds, which increases the risk of serious accidents. In addition, the poor quality of the road surface (many pits and potholes) makes the BR-116 akin to most Russian highways.
2. Fairy Meadows Road, Pakistan
Don't let the cute name fool you. No wonder Fairy Meadows is in second place in the list of 10 most dangerous roads in the world.
This winding mountain trail can lead to a beautiful pasture near Nanga Parbat Mountain. But the 16.2 km route will probably save you the urge to see Pakistan's natural beauty.
The unstable gravel road, just a little wider than the jeep's width, gradually becomes so narrow that in the end it will have to be overcome on foot or by bicycle.
There are no barriers separating a daredevil who dared to drive along this road from its edge. Therefore, falling on the rocks below is a trifling matter. As if that weren't enough, travel through Fairy Meadows is often complicated by extreme weather conditions, including heavy snow, ice and even avalanches. Therefore, even the most experienced and reckless drivers should think twice before touring this section in order not to earn the dubious fame of “brave but dead”.
1. North Yungas Road, Bolivia
This Bolivian road from La Paz has earned the nickname "road of death". So far, it is the most dangerous existing road in the world. It kills 200 to 300 people every year. This is not surprising, as there is barely room for just one vehicle on the narrow three-meter-wide trail.
The route changes from an altitude of 4500 to 1500 meters above sea level.Travelers must adapt to the total climate change, which means they will have to ride in rain, fog and mud between November and March. By the way, it was in this weather that one of the most expensive accidents in the history of the automotive industry.
The summer months are not much better, at which time the "road of death" is prone to avalanches and very poor visibility due to dust.
Most of the old Yungas Road can be bypassed. Nevertheless, the old "road of death" still attracts many bikers like a magnet, as there is a continuous descent on its 40-kilometer stretch. These people want to try their luck, although in which case they can only complain about their own stupidity.
The worst accident in the history of North Yungas Road happened in 1984. Then a bus with 100 people fell off a cliff. They all died.
If you really want to enjoy the beauties of nature, and at the same time, and slightly tickle your nerves while traveling by car, then you should not go along one of the above roads. You better pay attention to Norway Atlantic Road... It connects small islands between the towns of Molde and Kristiansund. On the way, you can admire the most picturesque views, and (if you're lucky) see whales, as well as the "drunken bridge", which at a certain angle of view drops straight into the sky.