The world’s roadways may be feats of public infrastructure, but it is important to recognise that not all were created equal. Whether it’s poor design, unrealistic speed limits, the local climate, or the surrounding and rather troublesome terrain that’s the cause of its perilous conditions, taking on any of the following roads isn’t for the faint-hearted.
Here we offer a rundown of the most dangerous roads on the planet along with some helpful advice on how to tackle more extreme environments with the right upgrades.
North Yungas Road
This highway isn’t nicknamed ‘Death Road’ for nothing. Claiming approximately 300 lives every year, the North Yungas Road in Bolivia has taken the crown as the world’s most dangerous road since it was first constructed back in the 1930s.
Carved into the mountains with a drop of over 1,000 metres, the lethal road is widely affected by frequent rainfall and rock slides, and is even home to many waterfalls. Despite recent improvements on its first 20 miles – this section is now a paved, dual-lane highway – the remainder reverts to the original 3.2-metre-wide, single-lane dirt track.
Despite the unbelievably dangerous road conditions, many prefer to drive Death Road after dark as Bolivia Bella details:
“… some drivers (and passengers) prefer to travel Death Road Bolivia at night when cars and buses have their lights on because they can see the lights of vehicles heading toward them and can plan ahead to stop at one of the slightly wider areas to wait for the other vehicle to pass. During the day, when it’s impossible to see other vehicles coming, cars and buses sometimes have to back up…”
Karakoram Highway
Taking you from Pakistan to China, the 800-mile-long Karakoram Highway is no doubt an essential roadway. But with a 4,500-metre elevation and regular interference from avalanches, rock slides, floods and other natural disasters, it’s by no means a safe or reliable shortcut.
It isn’t short on stunning views, however, with drivers taking on the Karakoram Highway rewarded with the most beautiful natural sights. Its picturesque surroundings mean it’s often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world.
The route is thought to follow the iconic Silk Road at many points. The Karakoram Highway took a total of 13 years to construct and it’s thought that almost 1,000 workers died building it. The already infamous highway was opened to the public seven years after its completion.
Tianmen Mountain 99-Bend Road
Another road that has earned a reputation as one of the world’s most scenic but dangerous drives is the Tianmen Mountain 99-Bend Road.
Despite its rather recent opening – construction started in 1998 with the road opening in 2005 – the winding Tianmen Mountain 99-Bend Road is just as treacherous and quickly earned its place in the top dangerous roads of the world rundown. As its name suggests, it features 99 death-defying twists and turns, each as sharp as the last, and sits 1,100 metres above sea level.
James Dalton Highway
To Alaska next and the James Dalton Highway. A regular feature on TV shows like Ice Road Truckers, this highway looks rather innocent but is plagued by conditions that make it truly deadly.
As well as featuring countless potholes, it’s covered by a slippery sheet of ice and continuously hit by heavy winds making it one of the trickiest routes to drive. If you do get yourself into a spot of trouble on the James Dalton Highway, its remote location also means you’re hours away from medical attention.
Taking on your own dangerous route?
You’ll need to upgrade your 4×4 to handle all the extremes you may encounter both on- and off-road.
Our brake kits are essential if you’re looking to improve your brakes for travel. By upgrading to performance brakes, you can maintain driving safety, whatever your environment. You’ll also minimise dust, reduce wear and boost the friction response that will increase brake efficiency and effectiveness.
You can tame any terrain with a clutch kit upgrade too. Designed for prolonged use in the harshest settings, our fortified clutch kits provide the increased clamp load, additional driveline straps, corrosion resistance and anti-burst protection to take on pretty much anything.
Although we don’t stock them here at 4×4 Works, your choice of tyres also matters when negotiating some of the toughest roads in the world.
Find the 4×4 upgrades you need by shopping with us today.
Image: pkul / Shutterstock.com
