The Pan-American Highway is one of the most impressive road networks in the world. It runs for around 19,000 miles through a staggering fifteen countries across North, Central, and South America. It passes through many diverse climates like dense jungles, arid deserts and barren tundra.
There is a 100-mile gap in Panama due to dense rainforest. So what makes this beautiful road so hazardous? Parts of the highway go through uninhabited land with nothing at all for hundreds of miles. It is not recommended to drive through alone, and definitely only recommended for the most well practiced travelers.
Dalton Highway
This Alaskan road is one of the most famous roads in the United States. It’s not only frigid, but it’s also one of the most remote roads in the world. The road begins at Fairbanks and runs north for over 400 miles to Deadhorse. Driving on this road is especially risky for cars. Because the road is actually a truck route, cars may encounter many large vehicles. The road has been featured on Ice Road Truckers.
The road is mostly gravel and very primitive in places. The nearest medical centers are either in Fairbanks or Deadhorse. If you’re planning to take this road, it is advisable to bring survival gear with you because getting stuck here could mean being stranded for long a while.
Ruta Nacional 5
South America is racking up quite the number of dangerous roads on our list! The Ruta nacional 5 runs through Chile for more than 2,000 miles. The road has many hills and valleys. Part of what makes the road so scary are its steep and very sudden drops. But, what’s even more frightening is that the road is mostly surrounded by desert. While you may think to yourself “that sounds beautiful,” it is also what makes this road so dangerous.
Thanks to the road being so unvarying, it often causes drivers to nod off and lose their concentration, which increases the chances of an accident occurring. The road is also known for thick fogs, which doesn’t help the whole danger thing.
Cotopaxi Volcano Road
Cotopaxi Volcano Road is exactly what it sounds like; a road in Ecuador that leads up to an active volcano, Cotopaxi, in the Andes Mountains. The Cotopaxi volcano has erupted more than 50 times since 1738 and numerous valleys have formed surrounding the volcano.
Ecuador is known for having bad roads, but the Cotopaxi Volcano Road is on another level. While that itself is enough to send chills down your spine, that’s not all. The road is unpaved and covered in potholes which are hidden among the dirt road. On top of that, part of the road is a stream which tends to flash flood with even small amounts of rain. Needless to say, the road claims the lives of several tourists annually and you should exercise full precaution should you visit.
Trans-Siberian
Another famous network of highways in the world is the Trans-Siberian highway. The Trans-Siberian runs for almost 7,000 miles from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok. Many parts of the road weren’t finished until years after its initial construction.
Although most of the road is now finished and nicely paved, it’s almost impossible to keep the road maintained thanks to its sheer size. Despite millions travelling on this road every year, the road is very dangerous. Because it’s in Siberia, you could run into trouble in the winter if you run out of gas. Parts of the road are in complete desolation.