5. The Stelvio Pass, Italy
The Stelvio Pass in Northern Italy is the second highest mountain pass in the Alps and has 75 hairpin turns. Fail to brake in time and you could end up tumbling down the ridge. During the 1990’s famous British Formula One racing driver Stirling Moss lost control of his car and skidded off the road during a vintage car event.
The Kabul-Jalalabad Highway in Afghanistan is a 143 kilometre stretch of road that runs right through an area occupied by the Taliban. Much of the surface is very poor. Gigantic potholes litter the narrow road that winds its way alongside sheer cliff faces with little to no guard rails. The highway is notorious for crashes as local drivers impatiently overtake loaded trucks, often around dangerous corners. Many plummet to their doom when they lose control of their vehicle – a combination of excessive speed and terrible road conditions.
3. Atlantic Highway, Norway
Despite being often recognised as one of the most scenic roads in the world, The Atlantic Highway can be a very dangerous. Opened on 7th July 1989, the highway connects a series of small islands via 8 bridges in Eide and Averøy in Møre og Romsdal, Norway. The unpredictable dips and turns of the highway can be difficult to navigate for an inexperienced driver, especially during storms. Dangerously high winds can batter cars around as violent waves crash over the sides of the bridges, reducing visibility to near zero. One false move and you could end up at the bottom of the Norwegian Sea.
2. Nanga Parbat Pass, Pakistan
The Nanga Parbat Pass begins on the Karakoram Highway in Pakistan and ends in the Nanga Parbat mountains. The highway is known locally as Fairy Meadows Road because it leads to a picturesque national park high in the hills. Don’t let the name fool you however. This road is dangerous. Very dangerous. It is largely unpaved and has no guardrails to prevent traffic from falling off the sheer cliff faces. The road sees plenty of traffic but is no wider than a single car in many places, making passing very difficult. Ice makes the road slippery and drivers must also avoid heavy snowfalls and avalanches.
1. Sichuan-Tibet Highway, China
The Sichuan Tibet Highway stretches for more than 2000 kilometres (1242.74 miles) from Chengdu in China to Lhasa in Tibet. It traverses some of the most treacherous terrain on earth. Much of the highway is single lane with vast muddy, unpaved stretches. Drivers must be cautious as the the extreme altitude means there is 50% less oxygen in the air than at sea level. Falling boulders and landslides are common and driver’s need to be prepared to spend hours stuck in traffic jams that are up to 1000 cars deep. If that’s not enough to contend with, fights regularly break out amongst the frustrated motorists and theft is common. There has even been several kidnappings reported along this treacherous stretch of road.
That was the 10 most dangerous roads in the world. Have you driven on any of these treacherous roads? Let us know what it was like!
