The Death Road... Will You Drive?

I was inspired by IRT's Deadliest Roads to post this. (btw Lisa is hot!)

The North Yungas Road, also known as The Death Road, is a 61 to 69 km road leading from La Paz to Coroico (Bolivia's capital, to the Amazon region) in the Yungas region of Bolivia. It is legendary for its extreme danger: in 1995 the Inter-American Development Bank christened it as the "world's most dangerous road. " One estimate is that 200-300 travelers were killed yearly along the road. The road includes crosses marking many of the spots where such vehicles have fallen.




At the end of 2006, after 20 years of construction, a new road (a by-pass) from La Paz to Coroico was opened to public. This new route features modern construction (bridges, drainage, etc.), multiple lanes, pavement, guardrails and many other elements that make it considerably safer than the original route. As a result, the original North Yungas Road is currently much less used by traffic, although an increasing number of adventure travelers bike it for the thrills.



NOW THE BIG QUESTION:
Will you dare to drive there?

 

Yeah it would be a definitely cool but dangerous drive. I also want to do it but I got no suicidal tendencies to really be on that road. If only there were cables attached to my car for safety, I would do it!

I guess its better to just leave it to professional extreme drivers then.

 

I don't think I will be driving on that road. It's too dangerous and I would have to watch out for land slides.

 

I think I would pass. Even when I was young I did not like my car to cut too close to a mountain edge.

 

I think I'd do well enough just being a passenger and letting a real pro do the work while I watch. I'm no slouch behind the wheel, but I'm not confident enough in my skills to taunt death.

 

Yeah, I understand...death is too damned permanent, but on a ride like that I'd have to be the driver or there would probably be all kinds of dents in the dash from my feet!

 

No I'm too cautious and paranoid to even try to drive in such a dangerous road. But I don't mind walking on it for the experience. But driving on it, it's a big no.

 

Death. Road.
No. Thanks.

Sometimes, you have to read the tea leaves or in this case the tea CLIFFS.

That's just crazy. I don't see any way they can improve the road either. The nature of the cliffs and rocks has them regularly eroding. Imagine growing up in that area where you have to take this road everyday! I guess you would get used to it.

 

Too dangerous for me. A little skid here or there, I'm dead. I'm not going to take that road even as a passenger.

 

I will with a condition. Close it for other traffic and you'll see me crossing it sloooooooowwwwllly and carefully. Hahaha. With other cars in there? No way, I've seen shows going into that road and the big danger is the crossing with other cars.

 

I would drive on that road, but I would be more focused and careful. If the mountain doesn't fall on you there should be no problem reaching your destination safely.

 

I've seen decumentaries and if I'm not mistaken, Top Gear drove there. The biggest problem are the other cars. They almost push you down sometimes.

 

Watch this video from minute 45. You can see topgear driving in that road.
http://played.to/ix45pemeom2o

 

Thank's mate for sharing. It seems that the Top Gear trio had some problems on this road, maybe if the other drivers would be civilized problems could be avoided.

 

Yep, and well, the cars they was testing was a bit, lets say, un-secure, but it's still very dangerous. :S And like in every roads known as dangerous, it's not the road that is dangerous most of the times, but their users.

 

Sure I will!!!

The first time I wanted to have a car was exactly to reach sites where only by car could go there and, obviously, there were no tourist attractions nor places where conventional people go.

Just thinking of the goal to survive the roadway is a real challenge.

 

No thank you! I would not enjoy that drive. The most "pucker factor" road I have been on is the Black Bear Pass in Colorado. I was the passenger - would have been more fun to be the driver. Here's a link: http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=79
There are some good videos on youtube.

 

If I managed to get ahold of a 4wd car and a good insurance policy! I'd probably do in that case! Just VERY slowly..

 

I don't know if it would be worth it, risking my life, for what? Just to say I did it?
I wouldn't do it, but there's people for everything I guess.