25 Most Dangerous Roads in the World

For thousands of years roads have provided a means for safer and more efficient movement of goods and people, but as you will see in a moment this is not always the case. While some of the roads on our list are heavily travelled thoroughfares others are remote, winding, and narrow. Whatever the case may be though, the 25 most dangerous roads in the world will likely convince you that walking isn’t really that bad after all.

25.  Trans-Siberian Highway, Russia

Along with the Trans Canada Highway and Australia’s Highway 1, the Trans-Siberian Highway is one of the longest in the world. In order to get from Vladivostok to St. Petersburg it crosses forests, mountains, deserts, and everything in between. Much of it is unpaved and certainly not ideal for a casual Sunday drive.

24  Highway 1, Mexico

While some parts of Highway 1 in Mexico are paved with asphalt, most of it is little more than dirt and rock, winding along dangerous precipices with no railings or guard rails.

23. Stelvio Pass Road, Italy

It may not be the scariest road on our list to drive, but it certainly is the most winding and this 2.7km road in the Italian Alps has been known to give drivers trouble.

22.  Cotopaxi Volcano Road, Ecuador

Although there are many dangerous sections branching off the Pan American highway, the 40-km long dirt track that links it with the Cotopaxi Volcano National Park in Ecuador tops the list. With enormous potholes, slippery slopes, and all around precarious driving conditions make this a road a bit of a challenge.

21.  Pan-American Highway, Alaska to Argentina

As we just saw, many dangerous roads branch off the from the Pan-American Highway but the highway itself can be fairly dangerous as well. It has been named the “longest motorable” road in the world as you can travel by car from the stretches of Alaska down to the tip of South America, which is about a 30,000 miles in total. As you can imagine, crossing two continents and traversing through jungles, mountains, glaciers, and deserts can inevitably lead to some challenges.

20.  A44, England

Although this road from Oxford to Aberystwyth in the UK is not dangerous in the same way that the previous roads have been, for some reason A44 has been responsible for so many head-on collisions that the government had to step in with countermeasures.

19.  The A682 Road, England

Like route A44, highway A682 seems like a rather quiet and uneventful road. In the past couple years, however, it has been responsible for hundreds of fatalities.

18.  Arica to Iquique Road, Chile

Driving along the road can seem rather harmless as runs through flat and wide open spaces but apparently drivers are often lulled into a false sense of security leading them to speed which many times ends in disaster.

17.  Sichuan-Tibet Highway, China

A road with a record of over 7,500 deaths for every 100,000 drivers has reason to be feared. Due to rock slides, avalanches, and poor weather drivers should certainly use caution.

16.  Patiopoulo-Perdikaki Road, Greece

The Patiopoulo-Perdikaki Road in Greece is narrow, filled with potholes, lacking guardrails, and is very slippery especially when it rains. Unless you’re up for a challenge it might just be better to walk or something.

15

A726, Scotland

Similar to its English counterparts earlier in the list, A726 Highway is another sleepy road that has managed to really rack up a serious reputation for head on collisions.

14.  U.S.  Route 431, USA, Alabama

Known as the “Highway to Hell” this stretch of road in Alabama is dotted with crosses that stand in memory of all the lives the highway has claimed.

13

The Barton Highway, Australia

Commonly recognized as the worst highway in Australia, Barton doesn’t have a very good reputation, especially when it comes to getting people safely to their destinations.

12

Luxor-al-Hurghada Road, Egypt

While some roads are dangerous for natural reasons, drivers stuck on the Luxor-al-Hurghada Road have a different reason to be wary. In fact, after dark some people will turn off their headlights due to the frequent attacks from bandits.

11

The Way to Fairy Meadows, Pakistan

Although it may sound harmless, The Way to Fairy Meadows has nothing to do with Pixie Dust or Fairies. It is actually an extremely narrow and dangerous 10 km stretch of road that leads to Nanga Parbat or The Killer Mountain in Pakistan. Fairy Meadows is a nearby valley with serene views of the huge mountain.

10

Skippers Canyon Road, New Zealand

This narrow and winding road actually requires a special permit to drive. If you do manage to get permission though, be ready for a slippery challenge and good luck if you run into someone coming from the other direction.

9

Halsema Highway, Philippines

The only way to get to Sagada, a popular tourist spot in the Philippines, is via the landslide-prone Halsema Highway. It is one of the most poorly maintained roads in the world and every year a bus or two will go rolling over its edge.

8

Pasubio, Italy

The Pasubio in northern Italy is famous for its incredible views. Driving can be a challenge, however, and isn’t even allowed after a certain point. Unfortunately restricting vehicle access hasn’t stopped people from riding their bikes over the edge.

7

Taroko Gorge Road, Taiwan

Known as one of the most dangerous roads in Taiwan, the Taroko Gorge Road is full of blind curves, sharp turns, and narrow paths leading through cliffs and mountains.

6

Guoliang Tunnel Road, China

Although it may be hard to see in the photo, this road in China was hollowed out of the side of a mountain by several villagers from the town of Guoliang. Before the construction of this mountain pass the village was cut of from the rest of civilization by the surrounding cliffs. Although it doesn’t see much traffic, due to its construction it is inherently fairly dangerous

5

The Himalayan Roads

This catch all term for any road leading up into the Himalayas refers to a very dangerous network of unpaved, narrow, and slippery roads that are dotted with crashed cars and rolled over buses.

4

BR-116, Brazil

The second longest road in Brazil has been nicknamed “The Highway of Death” for obvious reasons. Every year thousands of people die due to its poor upkeep and maintenance and even threats from gangs and bandits.

3

James Dalton Highway, Alaska

The James Dalton Highway in Alaska, although appearing serene at first glance, is filled with potholes, small flying rocks carried by fast winds, and worst of all it runs through the middle of nowhere.

2

Commonwealth Avenue, Philippines

More popularly known as the “Killer Highway” of the Philippines, Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City has seen numerous pedestrian, cyclist, and vehicular deaths over the years due to awful regulations and enforcement of traffic laws.

1

North Yungas Road, Bolivia

Also known as the “Road of Death” in Bolivia, it is often cited as the most dangerous road in the world. It is a regular occurrence for buses and trucks to go tumbling to the valley below, especially when they try passing each other. Yea, walking doesn’t sound too bad after all.