The World's Most Dangerous Road (photos)

[Kazimiera]

Yungas Road - Bolivia's Road of Death

This deadly 35 miles stretch between La Paz and Coroico in Bolivia is estimated to claim the lives of 200-300 travelers every year.

Keeping in mind, that this is just a single road, the death probability on this road is very high. On the other hand, this road has a very beautiful landscape view.

According to wiki, the road was built in 1930s during the Chaco War by Paraguayan prisoners.

Because of the extreme dropoffs up to 2,000 feet, single-lane width, and lack of guardrails, the road is extremely dangerous.

Further still, rain and fog can make visibility precarious, the road surface muddy, and loosen rocks from the hillsides above.

More than 100 people were killed when a bus veered of Yungas road into a canyon on July 24, 1983. It is said to be Bolivia’s worst road accident.

One of the local road rules specifies that the downhill driver never has the right of way and must move to the outer edge of the road. This forces fast vehicles to stop so that passing can be negotiated safely. Also, vehicles drive on the left, as opposed to the right like the rest of Bolivia. This gives the driver in a left-hand-drive vehicle a better view over their outside wheel, making passing safer.

In 1990s mountain biker enthusiasts have made it a favorite destination for downhill biking, since there is a 64 km stretch of continuous downhill riding. At least 13 of these cyclists have been killed on the ride.

Having said all that let’s take a closer look at Bolivia’s Road of Death. Would you have the guts to drive on this road?

http://www.weirdlyodd.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Old-Yungas-Road-Bolivia.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdur41v6Fj1rzeg83o1_500.jpg

http://img.izismile.com/img/img2/20090527/death_road_38.jpg

http://sky-today.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Screen-shot-2012-03-05-at-11.03.50-PM.png

http://u.slimg.com/smartertravel/gallery/146/originals/stm4f85a5f3a09a220120411.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5d339MvRC1qlhrzvo1_500.jpg


Bus falls off a cliff on Yungas Road


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F9vCpJFdBo


Truck falls over the side of the road (The driver was killed)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGPoaBVYMp8

[rhiannon]

No wonder it's so deadly. The road is extremely narrow! No way in hell would I drive that thing lol

[Mark]

Scary! And I use to think highway 1 (PCH) was dangerous.

[Graham]

That may have been the road on Top Gear. It looked terrifying. Worse in the rain or darkness.

[Kazimiera]

That may have been the road on Top Gear. It looked terrifying. Worse in the rain or darkness.

Yes, it was on Top Gear.

[Aredhel]

The road is too narrow, it isn't surprising why is so dangerous but the landscape it's definitely beautiful.

[rhiannon]

Scary! And I use to think highway 1 (PCH) was dangerous.It is. Consider how people in so cal tend to drive, for one :swl

When I was a kid and my dad used to take us to his house in Decker Canyon (assume you're familiar with Malibu based on your reference to PCH), he drove via Kanan Dume road, which at the time, was one of the most dangerous roads in this country. I looked up stats now to see if this is still true, and didn't see Kanan road listed anymore.

[rashka]

I feel like fainting. :faint2:

[Smaug]

Yeah, I saw a documentary about it. They call it "La Estrada de la Muerte", the road of death.

[dado]

dirt road for quite heavy traffic :D


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26lvJwv2Dso

[leisitox]

Ahh yes, I know similar roads, its normal in some areas, too many mountains.

[2012JD]

I wouldn't ride a car but in my free time I like to hike so if the opportunity came I would go hike it with some buddies . I feel it could be fun and adventurous