When USA Today’s travel section decided to do a feature about the most dangerous roads in the world, it looked at isolated areas in Bolivia, China, Siberia, Norway, Pakistan, Alaska and war-torn Iraq. Oh, and the Million Dollar Highway.
“It’s steep, twisting and completely unforgiving of driver error,” the newspaper said, putting the route between Silverton and Ouray in second place.
But c’mon, it doesn’t have 100 deaths a year, as the Old Yungas Road in Bolivia does, nor are there improvised explosive devices still littering it as along the route from Kuwait City to Basra, Iraq. No bandits or terrorists prey on it at night as along the Luxor-al-Hurghada Road in Egypt, and unlike the James Dalton Highway in Alaska made famous by “Ice Road Truckers,” it doesn’t have 12 percent-grade miles-long descents turning into “Slip ’n’ Slides.”
Drivers just have to pay attention, which apparently in this age of distracted driving, is too much to ask.
To see the roads selected, visit www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/travel/destinations/2013/10/14/worlds-most-dangerous-roads/2981499/.
Herald Staff
