Most car journeys these days seem to involve some kind of traffic jam, road works or random hazard slowing down your day. But it could be worse. Much worse.
For instance, how about edging along a mountain pass with another car coming towards you, where one wrong move could end in disaster?
That's the reality faced in many areas of the world, where the only option to get from A to B is to take your life into your own hands.
So strap in and get ready for a scary ride as we travel across some of the globe's most dangerous roads.
Keylong Kishtwar Road, India
If 235km of single-track dirt track through some treacherous mountain passes is your idea of a fun road trip, then the Keylong to Kishwar road in India is the one for you.
There are no safety barriers between you and a drop of thousands of metres into the valley below. Add to that the threat of landslides and changeable weather and you can see why this is one of the most dangerous roads in India.
One stretch of road, known as the 'Cliff Hanger', is narrow and likely to crumble away from you if you get too close to the edge.
Ibarska Magistrala, Serbia
Known locally as the 'Black Highway', State Road 22 or 'Ibar Highway' is one of the most dangerous roads in Europe, as well as one of the busiest in the country.
The highway connects Belgrade to other large municipalities within Serbia and neighbouring countries such as Montenegro.
A series of long straight roads punctuated by dangerous corners cause high occurrences of accidents, especially at night. Most of these are attributed to speeding or motorists driving under the influence of alcohol.
Transfăgărășan, Romania
Romania has some of the worst roads in Europe in terms of the quality of its highways. But their most famous and most dangerous road is the Transfăgărășan Highway.
This winding mountain road reaches altitudes of over 2,000m and exhibits some amazing scenery along its 150km length. It comprises hairpin bends, tunnels and drastic elevation changes, making it quite a challenge for many tourists who drive along this road each year.
The other main hazard you may encounter on this highway is huge flocks of sheep in the middle of the road – Shepherds also use the route to move their sheep between grazing lands, so this road might be one to avoid if you are in a hurry.
Skippers Canyon Road, New Zealand
Skippers Canyon is a gorge in New Zealand that follows the path of the Shotover River. In 1862, gold was discovered in this area, which necessitated the building of a road through the canyon.
The resultant road was carved out of the rocks by miners using only hand tools and explosives. Because of the soft rock of the canyon, the surface can be very slippery when it rains and crumbly when dry.
It features sheer drops, countless hairpin bends and is only wide enough for one-way traffic to use along most of its 22km length. Because of its notoriously dangerous nature, rental car insurance is not honoured on this stretch of road.
By the time the road was completed, the gold rush was over, but its historical nature and stunning scenery mean it is a popular tourist destination to this day.
James Dalton Highway, USA
Made famous by the television show 'Ice Road Truckers', the James Dalton Highway is a long stretch of road that links the city of Fairbanks to the northern community of Deadhorse, above the Arctic Circle.
This 666km stretch of road is named after an Alaskan engineer and serves as the main route for trucks transporting fuel and supplies to oil field workers. Only one-third of the road is paved, the rest comprising loose gravel and stones.
Adverse weather conditions such as snow and ice are the main dangers people encounter on this road. However, the isolation and presence of polar bears along the way also add to the risk factor.
Zojila Pass, India
The Zojila Pass is an important road that links the Ladakh region to the Kashmir Valley. Because of its location high in the mountains of the Himalayas, this road gets a pounding from snow and ice and is often shut for months at a time.
Here, there is only enough width for one motorised vehicle to travel along the pass at once. With no safety barriers installed, there are many areas where there is nothing between you and a sheer drop into the valley below. In short, it is not a route for the faint of heart.
A new tunnel is currently being constructed along a large chunk of the route to protect it from the worst of the winter weather, helping to keep the road open all year round. But it remains to be seen if this makes the road that much safer.
undefinedFairy Meadows Road, Pakistan
This rather nightmarish road winds its way through the mountains of Pakistan at heights over 3,000m above sea level at some points and is only wide enough for one vehicle at a time. Once again, there are no safety barriers to stop you from plunging into the valleys below. And this happens quite a lot.
The 16km road links the Karakoram Highway to the small village of Tato in the Fairy Meadows National Park. Because it is so dangerous, the road is only allowed to be driven by locals.
Yungas Road, Bolivia
The North Yungas Road is one of the most famous dangerous roads in the world, and for good reason. This 64km stretch of road links the city of La Paz to the Yungas region of Bolivia and was estimated to claim an average of between 200 and 300 lives each year until a new highway was opened nearby to offer a much safer alternative.
This fearsome road is nothing more than a gravel track up through the mountains. Its main challenges are the fog and rain that hinder visibility when negotiating the very narrow twisty track. This is not helped by traffic often coming the other way, forcing vehicles to pass each other on the edge of perilously steep drops.
Sichuan-Tibet Highway, China
The Sichuan-Tibet Highway is one of the highest roads in the world, which presents its own set of challenges. From avoiding avalanches and landslides to negotiating single-track sections at high altitudes with little grip, this road is a test for any driver.
This is also a very busy road considering its nature. Constant traffic jams and holdups mean that travelling the whole highway can sometimes take 15 days, and tempers can flare between drivers when the going gets really tough.
If you are brave enough to travel on this road then you will be rewarded with stunning scenery with snow-capped mountains and deep dramatic gorges.
Bayburt D915, Turkey
The winding D915 is regularly named one of the world's scariest roads thanks to its numerous hairpin bends cutting through the sides of mountainous terrain. It connects the Black Sea on the north coast to the city of Bayburt – once part of the ancient Silk Road trade route between China and Europe.
The road is an important route for local traffic, and with a loose road surface, often inclement weather and numerous other hazards it requires a lot of care and patience to navigate unscathed.
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