From gravel tracks clinging to Himalayan cliffs to icy highways carved through Arctic tundra, some roads demand far more than a full tank and a good p…
1/101. North Yungas Road, Bolivia: Known locally as El Camino de la Muerte, this 40-mile gravel track was estimated to claim an average of between 200 and 300 lives each year before a safer bypass was built — yet cyclists still flock here to test their nerve. (Image: Reuters)
2/102. James Dalton Highway, Alaska: This 414-mile haul road, made famous by reality TV, is mostly loose gravel that can shred tyres and shatter windshields, with fuel stops sometimes hundreds of miles apart and winters that plunge below −40°F. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
3/103. Zoji La Pass, India: At over 11,500 feet, this pass gets so narrow that two vehicles can’t pass simultaneously, yet it remains essential daily transit for thousands, even as a new tunnel has begun bypassing its worst stretches. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
4/104. Sichuan-Tibet Highway, China: This route, which extends across 14 mountains, causes many deaths due to landslides and rock avalanches along its nearly 1,500-mile journey between Chengdu and Lhasa. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
5/105. Guoliang Tunnel Road, China: Hand-hewn through a rocky mountain face by villagers from the virtually cut-off Guoliang in Henan province during the 1970s, this road punishes even the smallest driving mistake. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
6/106. Fairy Meadows Road, Pakistan: This road hand-carved by locals reaches heights of 3,300 metres above sea level and hasn’t been maintained since it was built, with no guardrails standing between drivers and the drop. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
7/107. Skippers Canyon Road, New Zealand: Hand-carved by miners over 140 years ago, this 16.5-mile road is so dangerous that even car insurance won’t be honoured if you drive on it. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
8/108. Transfăgărășan Highway, Romania: This winding mountain road reaches altitudes of over 2,000 metres, comprising hairpin bends, tunnels and drastic elevation changes, with flocks of sheep adding an unpredictable obstacle to the mix. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
9/109. Atlantic Road, Norway: Linking Kristiansund and Molde, this route features eight breathtaking bridges including Storseisundet Bridge, which is so steep it can look more like a ramp or diving board than a crossing point. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
10/1010. Ibar Highway, Serbia: Nicknamed the Black Highway, this route proves danger isn’t only about altitude; a series of long straight roads punctuated by dangerous corners causes high occurrences of accidents, especially at night. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)