Highway 1, also known as “A01” or “Ring Road” is a road network that connects many
of the major cities in Afghanistan but it is the Kabul-Jalalabad highway, running between
the country’s capital, Kabul and Jalalabad that is the most dangerous. What’s dangerous
about this stretch of road is that it enters deep into Taliban territory so threats of
insurgency, ambushes, roadside bombs and small arms fire are all a possibility. It’s that
dangerous in fact that there are police checkpoints scattered along the road and patrols are sent
daily to secure portions of the highway when NATO convoys pass. Drivers are also faced
with narrow, windy roads that climb up to 600 metres or nearly 2000 feet through the
Kabul gorge. For these reasons, the Kabul-Jalalabad road is considered to be one of the most dangerous
roads in the word.
BR-116 is the second longest and one of the most important highways in Brazil that runs
from the north to the south, roughly parallel to the coastline. Its nickname, “Rodovia
da Morte” which translates to “highway of death” should be enough a warning for
you to think twice before travelling on it. With poorly maintained roads and steep cliff
edges, many drivers are killed every year and since the road extends through some of
the most poverty-stricken areas of the country, drivers are often attacked by armed gangs
and bandits. Not only does this make BR-116 one of the most dangerous roads in the world
but it is also the most active road in the world for the sexual exploitation of children.
Children as young as nine engage in prostitution and it is said that for every ten miles of
the highway, at least one child is sold for sex.
Karnali Highway in Nepal is every driver’s worst nightmare with narrow and uneven road
surfaces, steep cliffs, few safety rails, roads that are prone to landslides and flooding
and lots of potholes. Despite this, Karnalli highway is a vital trading route for locals,
who have no choice but to travel along it, especially farmers, who need to transport
and market their crops. According to various sources, Karnalli highway claims the lives
of at least 50 people every year and it is that dangerous that police have even banned
people from driving on the road at night due to the increasing number of fatal accidents.
Zoji La is a 5.6-mile or 9-kilometre high mountain pass in India that provides a vital
link between Ladakh and Kashmir valley. Not only do drivers need to deal with extremely
narrow dirt roads with no protective barriers but they also need to deal with goats, cattle
and other livestock, who also travel along the pass. As you can imagine, there is no
room for error on this road and one minor slip-up would most certainly be your last.
High winds, storms, and heavy snowfall all add to the danger of travelling along this
road especially the latter, which is responsible for the road closing during the winter season.
The mountain pass is around 3500 metres or 11,000 feet above sea level, so if you ever
do find yourself travelling along Zoji La, we would advise you to try and refrain from
looking over the edge. It’s probably for the best.
The North Yungas Road in Bolivia is a road that you do not want to be driving on unless
for some reason you have a death wish. Dubbed the “Road of Death” or the “Road of
Fate”, North Yungas Road stretches for 35 miles or 56 kilometres from Coroico to the
country’s capital, La Paz. Most of the road is the width of a single vehicle and there
are very few guard rails meaning one minor miscalculation will result in certain death
with falls of up to 600 metres or 2000 feet. To add even more danger, the road can turn
into a slippery death track during the rainy season and fog can severely reduce visibility.
However, this has not stopped thrill-seeking adventurers from using the road, particularly
mountain bike enthusiasts. It is estimated that as many as 200 to 300 travellers are
killed every year and it is for this reason, that North Yungas Road is often cited as the
“world’s most dangerous road”.