30 Worst Countries To Drive In Around The World
By Tom Pearson
11 months ago
Alaska
image source: Reddit
To get through Alaska, there's only one option, the Alcan Highway. The Alcan is the only highway that travels through the length of Alaska, meaning it is abused all day every day. Deep snow drifts line either sides of the highway, hiding dangerous crash barriers that appear to come from nowhere. Trucks carrying oil use this highway and crash daily.Chad
image source: AP News
The only paved roads in Chad can be found in it's capital city, N'Djamena. Most of the roads throughout Chad are typically hard packed clay and dirt, or loose sand. The loose sand makes traction difficult, causing vehicles to slither and slide around the road. When the weather is dry, the clay and dirt creates dust, in the wet it turns into a muddy ice rink.Scotland
image source: Reddit
Scottish roads are a mixture of fast highways and narrow country lanes. The country lanes are the most deadly, as vehicles travel up to 60 mph around roads only subtitle for one car at a time. Scotland is home to hundreds of farms, meaning that you are likely to come head to head with either livestock or a tractor when travelling at high speeds.Norway - Atlantic Ocean Road
image source: Reddit
The Norwegian Atlantic Ocean road drives directly above, you guessed it, a large portion of the Atlantic ocean. Crashing waves up to 100 ft drench passing motorists, covering the cars in gallons of salty sea water. The waves can cause a loss of visibility, and potentially knock cars off the road. Salty sea water is also damaging to exposed metals of vehicles.Bolivia - Death Road
image source: Reddit
North Yungas Road, charmingly known as 'Death Road', is located in Bolivia. It's widely known as the most dangerous road in the world, with locals speeding and swapping sides of the road frequently. In 2011, there were over 140 recorded accidents on the road, 42 of which resulted in fatal accidents. Driving this road is one for the experienced motorist only.Canada
image source: Reddit
Canadian roads are icy, dirty and usually peppered with deep potholes. Low temperatures cause the tarmac to split and blister, resulting in large pot holes forming. Hit one of these and they can do detrimental damage to wheels, tires and suspension components. Over the last 20 years, Canada's highway 63 is said to have taken over 50 lives due to dangerous conditions.China
image source: My Best Place
In the province of South Henan, you can take a drive down the ominous 'Road of No Mistakes'. The road is paved in loose gravel rather than tarmac, and sided with a steep drop. The driving standard in China tends to be worse than the rest of the world due to the driving test that is mandatory there. Traffic manners are often poor, resulting in frequent crashes.The Congo
image source: Reddit
Often impassable during the rainy season, and generally in very poor condition, roads in the Congo are terrifying. Violent crime is also prevalent in this part of Africa, meaning that hold ups and car jacking's are commonplace. Police will help to escort you through some of the more dangerous roads, but expect to pay a hefty bribe for the pleasure.Dominican Republic
image source: DR1
Next to no enforcement of speeding laws, no laws on motorcycle helmets, a lack of respect for the drink driving laws and poor infrastructure all contribute to roads in the Dominican Republic being names the most dangerous in the world by the World Health Organisation. Road trips on motorcycles are the most deadly, with these trips resulting in most of the fatalities.Greenland
image source: Hexagon Systems
Greenland is actually more icy than Iceland. Driving without four wheel drive and snow tires is not possible in Greenland, and large off road trucks are the favorite of Greenland residents. Through the fjords and glacier melt water, only dirt roads will survive the constant barage of water. There is only 1 short section of paved road in the entire country.London
image source: Imperial College London
London is said to be the most stressful city in the world to drive in, due to the extremely high levels of congestion. People are squeezed into England's capital, making traffic and long traffic jams a daily occurrence. London gangs often use the road network to commit crimes, and police chases are an everyday sight in the city and its surrounding boroughs.Iraq - Highway of Death
image source: Reddit
The six lane highway between Kuwait and Iraq is known as 'The Highway of Death', officially known to the Iraq government as Highway 80. During the 1980 invasion of Kuwait, highway 80 was used by the Iraqi armored decisions. Locals from both sides used the highway to flee conflict, resulting in accidents and large pileups, many injuries and deaths.Isle of Man
image source: Reddit
For 99% of the year the roads on the Isle of Man, a small island in between the UK mainland and Ireland, are calm and normally speed limited. However, for a couple of weeks a year the Isle of Man TT takes place, where motorcycle racers ride at speeds of over 200 mph in order to lap the island in the fastest time possible. Speeds can average over 135mph!Uganda
image source: Human Rights Watch
The Kampala–Masaka Road is the most dangerous road in Uganda, recording up to 300 deaths per year, making it one of the most dangerous roads in Africa. Roads in this part of Africa lack industry and funding, so are often dirt, or partly paved at best. Dirt roads are slippery in the rainy season and kick up plumes of dust during the hot and dry summer months.Lagos - Nigeria
image source: Reddit
Roads in Lagos are often dusty and hard to drive on, but this is not what makes them some of the most deadly on the planet. Extremely high crime rates make the highways of Lagos resemble pirate infested waters. Carjacking, drug running and transportation of lethal weapons are all common occurrences on many highways, the most dangerous being The Isheri-Igando-Iyana Iba road.New Zealand
image source: NZ4WD
In order to access some of the most picturesque parts of the New Zealand countryside, a four wheel drive car is an absolute must have. Roads are muddy and slippery, meaning traction and grip are difficult to find. Many New Zealanders equip their four wheel drives to be specifically set up to deal with muddy roads and slippery, short, sharp, climbs.Libya
image source: Reddit
Striking an unexploded roadside bomb is a very real and prevalent threat when driving through Libya. Carjacking and robberies are very common, and the coastal road between Zawiyah and Tripoli presents an elevated risk. Libya borders often close with little or no notice, making leaving the country via road a difficult and time consuming affair. Would you drive on these roads?Oman
image source: New Arab
Roads in Oman are surrounded by spectacular panoramic views. In order to see the spectacular views, the roads you need to take are extremely steep and known for being deadly. Heavy rainfall can cause local, smaller roads to flood quickly, and even main roads can flood in a matter of hours. Camels also wander the highway, so keep an eye out for them too.Nurburgring - Germany
image source: Reddit
Although it is also a world famous racetrack, the Nurburgring in Germany is a public road. Although the road surface and condition is good, cars are allowed to travel at unrestricted speeds and can do multiple laps a day, making it a hotbed for accidents. The ring claims the lives of many cars and motorcycles every year, as well as their drivers and riders.Australia
image source: One Adventure
Due to large open expanses of the outback, roads in Australia can stretch for hundreds of miles without passing any civilization. This means that drivers need to be prepared, often stocking their cars with plenty of food, water, blankets and spare fuel. In this part of the world, rough terrain means the locals also favor a four wheel drive off-roader.Peru - Pan American Highway
image source: Reddit
Kidnapping, guerrilla violence, drug traffickers and smugglers call the Pan American highway their office. This route is often frequented by South American criminals. This combined with the dusty and slippery roads make driving here dangerous in more than one sense of the word. Livestock in the road and flooding also poses a large threat to travelers.Thailand
image source: Reddit
Grim statistics highlight that road traffic deaths are one of the leading causes to loss of life in Thailand. Due to poor road safety knowledge accidents are common. Many Thai people do not drive cars, and favor motorcycles instead. Again, due to poor road safety knowledge, many Thai people do not wear helmets. This combined with the traffic is a deadly combination.South Africa
image source: Reddit
In South Africa it is relatively safe for tourists to hire a rental car and explore the city of Cape Town. However, once you leave the middle of the city and go towards the suburbs, the roads become more narrow and dangerous. Car jacking's in South Africa are the most prominent crime, and red lights are usually where most car jacking's take place.Patagonia
image source: Autoblog
Patagonia is located in one of the more remote areas of the globe. Its roads are scenic and winding, but can be dangerous due to how unpopulated they are. Drivers are advised to take supplies like warm clothes, blankets, extra food and water and an emergency first aid kit. Roads are often far from hospitals and can be remote for hundreds of miles at a time.Tasmania
image source: Tasmania Travel
Tasmania roads are a mix of long and winding mountain passes, beach trails and muddy forest lanes. Four wheel drive off road vehicles are necessary for traveling in Tasmania. Chunky off road tires are also required to get out of sticky bog holes and pull yourself from soft sand. In order to access the more remote areas, winches and off road suspension is also needed.India
image source: Word Press
Indian roads are a mix of motorcycles, tuk tuks, taxi's and large trucks. Accidents are frequent due to people driving on the wrong side of the road, people setting up road side stalls and things falling from the back of trucks. Livestock walk into the roads, and people with no access to a vehicle are forced to walk down the highways alongside the traffic.Tokyo
image source: Reddit
Due to how over populated Japan has become, the roads in Tokyo are full to bursting. Although the road conditions are good, and infrastructure is well adapted to deal with the vast number of people, the roads can still be dangerous. Due to the population numbers being so high, small accidents with cars and pedestrians are frequent occurrences.Vietnam
image source: Reddit
In the bigger cities within Vietnam, the roads are densely populated by lots of motorcycle traffic. Many people choose to ride motorcycles and scooters in Vietnam due to them being so cheap and readily available. In the countryside, the roads are made from clay and mud, leaving them susceptible to flooding during the rainy season.Turkey
image source: Reddit
Due to its geographical location, Turkey suffers from regular earthquakes. Due to the magnitude of the earthquakes, roads are often torn to pieces leading to them needed significant rebuilding. Industry in Turkey is not as modern as the rest of the world, meaning some roads can be disturbed and no longer fit for purpose for many weeks or even months.Venezuela
