World’s Most Dangerous Roads

#1 Col du Chaussy, France

Col du Chaussy, located in the Rhône-Alpes region of south-eastern France, is a high mountain pass that begins with the famous “Les Lacets de Montvernier.” This unique stretch is only about 2 miles long, but it includes 17 hairpin turns as you climb up a cliff. There’s a small concrete barrier as you zigzag upward, but this incredible road, while impossibly picturesque, is also one of the world’s most dangerous. Here’s why, like all roads in France, you won’t see a single stop sign on the Col du Chaussy.

#2 Commonwealth Avenue, Philippines

This road, unlike others on this list of the world’s most dangerous roads, is not perched on the edge of a mountain or near a crumbling bridge. It is, in fact, a 7.5-mile-long wide urban highway. This road is eighteen lanes wide, and because of heavy traffic, poor drainage that causes flooding on the avenue, and the constant presence of motorbikes and pedestrians that tour buses cannot see, it has earned the tragic nickname “Killer Highway” due to the many accidents and fatalities that have occurred here.

#3 Karnali Highway, Nepal

Every year, approximately 50 people die here, making a drive along the 155-mile Karnali Highway in West Nepal’s Himalayas a literal death wish. Even when it is not monsoon season, it is one of the most dangerous roads in the world because the surface is extremely dusty, making visibility poor, and it includes narrow stretches, landslides, falling rocks, flooded sections, potholes, huge drops off steep cliffs, and significant bumpiness. And it is now only a passable road during the day, as the police have prohibited driving at night due to the high number of fatal accidents. This highway is dangerous, but Nepal is one of the safer countries than you might think.

#4 Taroko Gorge Road, Taiwan

Taroko Gorge Road, like the Guoliang Tunnel in China, is one of the most dangerous roads in the world because it is carved out of and runs through a mountain. This popular nearly 12-mile stretch in Taiwan is spectacular, so expect a parade of tour buses, cars, scooters, bicyclists, and pedestrians all trying to navigate blind corners and terrifying bends that appear too small to fit around. If you find yourself on Taroko Gorge Road, you’d better hope the weather is nice because landslides, floods, and falling rocks can make sections impassable.

#5 BR-116 (“Rodovia da Morte”), Brazil

Any highway named Rodovia de Morte, or Highway of Death, is bound to be one of the world’s most dangerous roads. This 2,790-mile highway, which runs from Fortaleza in the north to the southeast edge of the country along the Uruguay border, is the second-longest in Brazil. While it is advertised as completely paved, that claim is questionable because much of BR-116 is in poor condition. However, it is not the cracked asphalt that makes it dangerous. Unstable weather and steep cliffs frequently cause major accidents, and because the Highway of Death passes through some of Brazil’s poorest areas, gangs pose a threat in several places along this busy route.

#6 Kahekili Highway, Hawaii

This 20-mile one-lane road is framed on one side by rock and on the other by sheer cliff drops. It’s both beautiful and terrifying for nervous drivers traveling from Kapalua to Wailuku. The legendary Kahekili Highway is known for its twisting turns and narrow passages.

#7 Bayburt-of Road D915, Turkey

If you are afraid of landslides or have vertigo, avoid D915 in Turkey. This difficult road is located on the Black Sea region’s border in the country’s northeast and is extreme because there are no guardrails to separate you from a massive drop. In fact, only professional drivers should attempt this, despite the enormous photographic payoff! Derebaş Turns is the most recognizable section of Bayburt-of Road. It has 13 hairpin turns that will take you from 5,617 feet above sea level to 6,677 feet above sea level in three miles at a steep grade of up to 10%!

#8 99-Bend Road to Heaven, China

How many hairpin turns are there in 6.8 miles? 99 of them, it turns out! This short stretch in China’s Tianmen Mountain National Park features hundreds of 3,800-foot-high sheer drops and twists. You could drive this road in less than 10 minutes if it were a straightaway, but what makes 99-Bend Road one of the most dangerous roads in the world is the elevation, the turns, and the complete lack of anything to keep you from plunging to your death! Not to mention the constant threat of earthquakes in this region!

#9 Sichuan-Tibet Highway, China

The constant threat of rock slides, mudslides, and avalanches would make any road dangerous, but add treacherous switchbacks on cliffs and winding through peaks, and you have the 1,330-mile Sichuan-Tibet highway connecting China with Tibet. The fatality rate is staggering, with 75 people dying for every 1,000 on this road built nearly three miles above sea level in the early 1950s, passing Buddhist monasteries and herds of yaks.

#10 Atlantic Road, Norway

This twisting ribbon of coastal concrete may appear beautiful, but don’t be fooled; when the wild Atlantic comes too close, it’s one of Norway’s most dangerous roads! The sharp turns, curves, and twists will make you feel like you’re on a rollercoaster ride as you drive along it. When the weather is bad, as it frequently is in this part of the world, visibility can vanish in a matter of seconds. Then there are the huge, thunderous walls of water that regularly crash over the road’s barriers.

#11 Dalton Highway, Alaska

This icy finger of tarmac, one of the world’s most isolated and dangerous roads, was built in 1974 as a supply route for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. If you take this route, you’ll need to bring plenty of supplies because there are only three towns on the 413-mile (or 666-kilometer) route, one of which is called Deadhorse. To make matters worse, large sections of the highway have fallen into disrepair, and its most famous claim to fame serves as a reminder that this isn’t a road you want to break down on: it’s the longest stretch of road in North America without any kind of roadside assistance. However, Alaska is not the state with the most dangerous commute in the United States.

#12 Zojila Pass, India

This Himalayan highway connects Ladakh and Kashmir and is 5.6 miles long and 11,500 feet above sea level. Because of the uneven road surface, it is really only suitable for off-road vehicles, and during the colder months, wind, snow, and rain make this road more difficult. This is another place where it’s probably best not to look down, as there are only a few thousand yards between you and the valleys below.

#13 Guoliang Tunnel, China

For this one, leave the monster truck at home. This 3/4-mile-long road tunnel is only 16 feet tall and 13 feet wide on the inside. It can be found in the Taihang Mountains of Henan Province, China. It was built in 1977 by 13 locals, but it took five years to complete because several villagers died on the job. There are 30 “windows” carved into the rock, but we wouldn’t stop for a selfie. If the thought of driving through this tunnel gives you shivers, consider this: Prior to its construction, locals from the village it connects to used a ladder to get back and forth. These are the world’s top extreme travel adventures.

#14 Canning Stock Route, Australia

This road certainly does not provide many views. There’s dust, dust, and more dust, and there aren’t many road signs to guide you. This 1,150-mile-long track in Western Australia is regarded as the world’s most remote road, and driving it from start to finish will take three weeks. Due to the scorching heat, taking this road trip during the summer months is nearly impossible, and drivers are advised to travel in multi-vehicle convoys. The road is in poor condition, so drivers are advised to leave enough space not only for food and drink, but also for spare parts.

#15 Lindisfarne Roadway, United Kingdom

Lindisfarne Roadway, located in the United Kingdom, is a picturesque and historic route leading to the enchanting Holy Island of Lindisfarne. This unique roadway, known as the Holy Island Causeway, is famously uncovered at low tide, allowing access to the island, but submerged by the North Sea during high tide, isolating the island from the mainland. It’s not only a practical passageway but also a testament to the ever-changing tides and the island’s deep-rooted history, making it a must-visit destination for those intrigued by the beauty and mystique of the British coastline.

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