| Most cities in the world complain about potholes, | | | | blind. |
| crack's and damages in roads. But compared to roads | | | | Stories have been told of trucks stopping on the road, |
| in rural areas and isolated towns, these minor cracks | | | | to wait for the fogs or storms to pass, only to have |
| and holes don't even come close the danger that | | | | parked a little too close to the edge. As the rain falls, |
| some travellers face. | | | | the road is washed away around them. |
| The only road that goes up the mountain to Bolivia's | | | | It is estimated that every year 200 to 300 people die |
| main city, La Paz, has been recorded as the most | | | | on this stretch of road, which is less than 50 miles long. |
| dangerous road in the world. It climbs up the | | | | In one year, 25 vehicles plunged over the edge. That's |
| mountainside, five kilometres above sea level. Trucks, | | | | one car, every two week, for the entire year. |
| buses and taxis drivers risk their lives practically every | | | | The Pasubio road in Northern Italy has also had it |
| day they attempt to drive on this main road. | | | | share of deaths. However they have since turned it |
| Paraguay prisoners of war built the road, known as | | | | into a hiking path. The ancient road is often used for |
| Death Road, in the 1930's. Many of the prisoners died | | | | mountain bikers, who love the spectacular views. |
| during the building, but the number of deaths is a | | | | There is a sheer drop off the cliff and the road often |
| fraction to the number of drivers who have died on | | | | twists into tunnels and hairpin turns. A few small cars |
| the road itself. | | | | drive the road to reach the guesthouses at the top. |
| On the one side of the road, there is a steep cliff that | | | | The official highway to Yakutsk, in Russia, is the only |
| rises up and beyond, threatening to avalanche rocks | | | | road letting into the city. In dry season, this isn't a |
| and boulders at any given time. The other side of the | | | | problem, but when the rain sets in the entire road turns |
| road is the real alarm, as it just drops away to over | | | | into pure sinking mud. Motorists have to wallow in mud |
| half a mile in depth. You can follow the drop to the | | | | or wait in the week-long 100 km car line-up. Rumour |
| bottom and then up the other side of the canyon walls. | | | | has it, that one woman had to give birth while waiting in |
| The road itself is just 3 meters wide, barely enough | | | | queue. |
| space for two cars driving past each another, let alone | | | | To give an indication of how damaging or severe the |
| two trucks. The entire track is composed of dirt and | | | | mud can get, there have been reports of trucks and |
| there has been no attempt, despite it being the major | | | | tractors have been swallowed into it. Food products |
| route for trucks and buses, to tar the road. If the drop | | | | are being airlifted to the city until officials can remedy |
| alone and the limited space wasn't enough, the road | | | | the road situation. |
| twists and turns into hairpin bends. Skid marks and tyre | | | | On the up side, South African roads don't even come |
| tracks are often seen on the bends, some of which | | | | close to this disaster rating. While some of the roads |
| head straight out into the void. | | | | leading to farms are pure dirt, and we do get the |
| In summer those are the only factors you have to deal | | | | occasional mud slip in far country sides, for the most |
| with. In winter, the rain season comes, creating | | | | part it's only the rare pothole and crack. Major |
| waterfalls to drop from the cliffs onto the road. The | | | | highways are fully tarred and beautiful views are |
| dirt road will convert to mud and fog will whisper up | | | | available, without the dangers of the above roads. |
| from the depths of the canyon, making drivers almost | | | | |