Going for a road trip is always an exciting adventure. It is even more exciting if you take the journey in a foreign land you have never driven in before. It exposes you to a lot of magnificent countryside views and pure unadulterated natural beauty you will never find within the confines of the concrete jungles in the cities which we live in. But in as much as a road trips abroad would be appealing, a lot of caution must be taken when choosing the roads because there are some that are death traps and which would give you more fear than adventure should you decide to travel on them. With that said, here are some of the world’s most dangerous roads you should know about.
1. World’s Most Dangerous Roads – The Stelvio Pass, Italy
If you have gone for passport expedite service so that you can go on a road trip in Italy, then the Stelvio Pass is one of the roads you must avoid. Though it may give you an incredible chance to marvel at the beautiful Alpine sceneries, it is one of the most dangerous roads on the planet, is characterized by very sharp corners and steep mountain drops. There is no adequate road furniture to keep you safe either, and the best you will get is low concrete you can easily overrun in case of a crush. If you must travel this road, then it must be during the day, and you must drive very slowly.
2. World’s Most Dangerous Roads – Los Caracoles Pass in Chile
The Los Caracoles Pass in Chile features steep dizzy bends that slowly make their way through the Andes between Los Andes in Chile and Uspallata in Argentine. Looking at the road may not be scary, given that it is well tarmacked and properly marked, but when you think about the fact that it is at an elevation of over 3,000 foot above the sea level and with no safety barriers, you are likely to develop goose bumps. Besides, the procession of articulated lorries as well as snow cutting off some sections of the road during winter makes it scary enough not to attempt venturing into it.
3. World’s Most Dangerous Roads – Karnali Highway in Nepal
Driving in the Karnali Highway in the Himalayas of West Nepal is a death wish you wouldn’t want to experience. The surface of the road is terribly bad that sometimes even cyclist fear to ride on it. Yes, it offers you with some of the most stunning views in Nepal, but the risks and the dangers involved are simply not worth driving on it. It is estimated that close to fifty people lose their lives annually on that road, and unless you wish to be part of the statistics of the deaths reported on that year, it is a road you want to stay away from.
4. World’s Most Dangerous Roads – Victim River Bridge in Siberia
The name is sufficient to scare the hell out of you, and this is not misrepresented in any way. The Victims Bridge in Siberia has a reputation of being one of the scariest bridges the world. Though it doesn’t report many fatalities (because no one uses it), it still is a dangerous place for any type of driver. It consists of a super old structure that is just enough for a standard vehicle, with no guard rails whatsoever. The structure is over decaying wood that might collapse any time. So dangerous is the bridge that no one ever attempts to go across it.
5. World’s Most Dangerous Roads – Karakoram Highway
Karakoram Highway connects Pakistan to China and is sometimes considered as the Eighth Wonder of the World. The road is constructed at 15,000 feet above the sea level, covering over 1,300 kilometers and cutting through the most mountainous region in the entire world. What makes the road more dangerous are the common hazards users are exposed to all the times. They include things like rock falls, terrible storms, precipitous cliffs, flooding, and attacks by wild animals, and landslides amongst others. This is the last place you would like to get stranded in as it will seem like decades before any help arrives. It is in the middle of nowhere and getting stuck there would mean that you are some serious trouble.
6. World’s Most Dangerous Roads – Guoliang Tunnel Road in China
The name of the road when translated into English means “the road that tolerates zero mistakes.” Just as the name suggests, if you want to venture into this road, then you must be certain that you will be making no mistake. This is because any slight mistake may see you get dumped at the bottom of the valley below, and probably your last day on earth. The road was built by 13 local villages, and many of the villagers lost their lives during the construction as they were chiselling the mountain to create the tunnels. The road is not just the steepest in the world, but also one of the top tourist attractions visited in the region, but on foot.
7. World’s Most Dangerous Roads – The Widow Maker in the United Kingdom
The Widow Maker is a scenic country road going through Peak District, and it is one of the most dangerous roads in the United Kingdom. Most of the fatalities recorded in this road are motorcyclists who travel to the region to enjoy the magnificent sceneries. What makes the road very dangerous are the huge number of bends with very steep embankments and stone walls that increase the chances of accidents. If you think of getting passport expedite service so that you go and enjoy the scenic countryside in the United Kingdom, just be sure to avoid this road as it can be your last.
8. World’s Most Dangerous Roads – The Zoji Pass in India
This is a mountain road between Ladakh and Kashmir. It is the only lifeline that allows the people in Ladakh to be in contact with the rest of the world, but also it is one of the most dangerous roads in the world, especially during winter. The nine-kilometre road winds over the mountain at an altitude of over 3,000 feet with no safety barriers on either side of the road. All you see are hard rock surfaces on both sides with a deep valley at the base. This is not the road to think about venturing in if you suffer from fear of landslides or vertigo.