Yungas ‘Death Road’ [TopGear] The Most Dangerous Road in the World

Having enjoyed the Christmas episode of Top Gear and after the laughter had finished I was struck by the incredible reality of the danger presented to the cast and crew during their trip to Bolivia. The programme has fantastic script writers and i think sub consciously they brought about a fantastic piece of reality to the programme whilst it may have been unintentional. It just goes to prove that its very easy to take for granted the fact that travel in the UK is realatively easy, many of the Bolivians risk their lives everyday just making a journey that is required for them just to survive.

By @JezZBean

Background

‘Road of Death’ or ‘Death Road’ as it’s called, the Yungas Road, in the Yungas region of Bolivia has one of the toughest terrains in the world. Reports estimate ‘killer-road’ takes 200-300 lives each year. Due to the dangers associated with the road, the Inter-American Development Bank christened it the “world’s most dangerous road” in 1995. The road includes crosses marking many of the spots where vehicles have fallen.

The North Yungas Road (alternatively known as Grove’s Road, Coroico Road, Camino de las Yungas, El Camino de la Muerte, Road of Death or Death Road) is a 61 or 69-kilometre road^[1] leading from La Paz to Coroico, 56 kilometres (35 mi) northeast of La Paz in the Yungas region of Bolivia. It is legendary for its extreme danger and in 1995 the Inter-American Development Bank christened it as the “world’s most dangerous road”.^[2] One estimate is that 200 to 300 travellers were killed yearly along the road.^[2] The road includes crosses marking many of the spots where vehicles have fallen. Via Wiki

“The Yungas road is not merely a passageway to the thick dense jungles of Bolivia, but is in itself a rite of passage.”

Jonathan Derksen (2002)

Death Road

Yungas road earned its reputation because it has the highest death toll per year than any other road in the world. At least 25 vehicles fall off the road per year and more than 100 people per year lose their lives on the Yungas Road in Bolivia.

The Yungas road was built by prisoners during Bolivia’s 1932-1935 war with Paraguay and continued many years after. It has been the only route linking northern Bolivia and the Yungas Valley to La Paz. The road is carved into the sides of the mountainside and it can have vertical drops of more than 1,500 (457m) feet just off the road and it has no guardrails.

The two-way road often times no wider than a single car, has blind corners and hairpin turns. It has been the only route from the farmlands of the Yungas Valley up to the capital in La Paz. There has been a staggering death toll: in one year 300 people died in cars, bus loads of people and trucks have plunged over the sheer cliff sides. via Travel-bolivia.com Link

Accidents

The North Yungas Road in Bolivia is reported to have a fatal accident every other week, 100-200 people perish there every year. It is said to be the most dangerous road in the world and has earned the nickname “The Winding Road of Death“. In the 1930s the road was built by prisoners of war.

The North Yungas Road leaves the city of La Paz,  the world’s highest capital city at 12,000 feet. It leads to Coroico, 56 km (35 miles) northeast of La Paz. In July of 2003, a safer route opened in an attempt to route traffic away from the dangerous road. View slide show of winding road of death. It is one of the few routes that connects the Amazon rain-forest region of northern Bolivia, or Yungas, to its capital city. Because of the extreme drop-offs, single-lane width, and lack of guardrails, the road is extremely dangerous. Speaking of accidents, due to the remoteness of the area, if you go over the edge it will be hours before a rescue crew can reach you. The first responders to accidents are usually the fellow motorists.  via Prettysleepy |link|

Some incredible pictures of Yungas.

Via Hottnez

More than 100 people were killed when a bus veered of Yungas road into a canyon on July 24, 1983. It is said to be Bolivia’s worst road accident.

This picture really brings home the reality of this incedible road.

Considering the risk of accident the nearest Ambulance station is almost 2 hrs away in La Paz

Very Close

As a blog writer i think  the world is  best described in pictures, this is truly a remarkable place, unique and purposeful but not without the risk and danger. You are clearly taking your life into your own hands in order to complete a remarkable journey only matched by that of everest. My last pictures are dedicated to all of those individuals , groups and families who have embarked on the incredible journey and taken on the incredible challenge of the “Death Road” Bolivia.

RIP

So, we have the stories and the pictures and i would like to conclude the article with a video dedicated to Top Gear and the Yungas Death Road, what an incredible programme not only have you brought us laughter but its been a education. Like my page on Yellowstone this will probably end up as one of the most remarkable places in the world that i have never seen although i would never say never !

I hope you have enjoyed the article please leave a comment or tweet it on.

Yungas “Death Road” Top Gear December 2009

references:

Whitaker, Mark (2006-11-11). “The world’s most dangerous road” (Podcast). BBC.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/6136268.stm
. Retrieved 2007-05-10.

Mostrous, Alexi (2008-04-25). “British cyclist Tom Austin killed on Bolivian ‘Highway of Death’”. The Times.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3814406.ece
. Retrieved 2008-04-25.

The North Yungas Road in Bolivia is reported to have a fatal accident every other week, 100-200 people perish there every year. It is said to be the most dangerous road in the world and has earned the nickname “The Winding Road of Death“. In the 1930s the road was built by prisoners of war. The North Yungas Road leaves the city of La Paz,  the world’s highest capital city at 12,000 feet. It leads to Coroico, 56 km (35 miles) northeast of La Paz. In July of 2003, a safer route opened in an attempt to route traffic away from the dangerous road. View slide show of winding road of death. It is one of the few routes that connects the Amazon rain-forest region of northern Bolivia, or Yungas, to its capital city. Because of the extreme drop-offs, single-lane width, and lack of guardrails, the road is extremely dangerous. Speaking of accidents, due to the remoteness of the area, if you go over the edge it will be hours before a rescue crew can reach you. The first responders to accidents are usually the fellow motorists.

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Top Gear’s Hammerhead-i Eagle Thrust featured in Autopia poll

It’s hard to believe just 10 years ago automakers were working double-time to churn out the biggest SUVs consumers could stuff into their garages. Bigger was better, fuel economy be damned. Why worry when gas was less than a buck-and-a-half a gallon and few people knew about, let alone cared about, global warming?

Last week we laid out our 10 best cars of the decade. We took a slightly different approach to that old moto-journo chestnut, opting to chose cars that represent a technological or ideological step forward.

Vote on your top ten at the autopia poll.
Article

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Van by name and Van by nature Caravan man goes green!

Don’t take your caravan to the country, let the caravan bring the country to you. Caravan by Kevin Van Braak is customised caravan that opens out to provide a grassy area of calm to wherever it’s situated. With our environment becoming increasingly more concrete and green spaces disappearing rapidly, Caravan can bring a touch of country living to anywhere it’s needed.

Mr Van Braak, from Amsterdam, bought a 1976 Constructam Caravan, stripped out the inside and cut it in half so it would open flat to reveal a grassed area capable of seating 15 people.

He said: ‘My caravan appears to be no different from any other caravan when it is pulled behind a car but when opened it manifests itself as an artificial garden, park or camping sight.’

via The Mail |link|

check out more artistic work By Kevin Van Braak link

In keeping with the Caravan scene and the mad world of crazy ideas i had a surf around and found some more for you to enjoy, it would have been rude not to. Enjoy!

|site link|

not so modern

images by Find A Property

via blackmore vale lesuire link

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Wrong Way! [sat nav files]

Sat-nav feels like state-of-the-art technology, but it’s a century since the first auto-navigation device was invented and,  there are fears such systems are starting to erode local knowledge.

Ring Ring ! Hello , hi could you tell me where my delivery is ?

Sat-nav blunder sends Asda van crashing down narrow footpath , and he’s not on his own!

Despite the Edenfield path being about three foot wide and surrounded by dense foliage, the driver seemingly ignored common sense and instead blindly followed his electronic directions.

|article|

Check out the SAT NAV files …..

First ever SAT NAV

Too Late !

Sorry couldn’t resit this One!

Somewhere in Snowdonia ” Of all the scenarios I had dreamt up before the off of things going wrong, one of the worst actually happened today- the sat nav started playing up, turning itself on and off repeatedly”.

A bride feared she had been jilted after a sat-nav blunder left her groom struck in a narrow country lane.

The latest satnav blunder is pointing hundreds of drivers to a bridge that has never existed. via mail-online

A LORRY driver got stranded for seven hours in a muddy field after his Sat Nav sent him down a country lane on a “short cut” through Snowdonia.

Eyes on the road!

A Swedish couple seeking the golden beaches of the Italian island of Capri were disappointed when their GPS navigation system led them 400 miles off course, landing them instead in the industrial northern town of Carpi.

No need for SAT NAV

Crash and Carry

Told You!

“Not a Golf, But like a Golf, but a hatchback”

Maxi Damage!

Its round the back Dear !

well dont just stand there ! get me out

Do a u turn , and less of the back chat !

I cant plug it in !

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[Zoe] parents say no to Reanult car

First it was Clio, then Mégane. Now Renault, the car manufacturer, has upset French parents by christening its latest offspring Zoé.

Some young couples are so angered by the move that they have launched internet petitions demanding that the company should rename the car — to prevent “Zoé” being devalued.

The Zoe was recently launched at the Frankfurt Motor show see article >>>
http://www.insideline.com/renault/renaults-use-of-zoe-name-for-ev-criticized.html
.

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DeLorean on [ebay] is relisted @ US $89,000.00

The previous “Buy It Now” buyer backed out, so this amazing car is still up for sale.

That being said, PLEASE don’t email me only to ask if it really travels through time, or if it comes with Plutonium, or if it can fly, I’ve heard it all by now.  Also, PLEASE DON’T BID unless you are serious, you can afford it, and you are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol (like the guy who ruined the last auction). 4days to go So get your Bids in Bid Page >>>>
http://xr.com/4utf

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Why you should never cheat your partner!

Premiership referee Mark Clattenburgs £40,000 Porsche. His ex-girlfriend Susan Clegg was arrested in 2008

Some guy cheated on his wife and was caught after he accidentally sent her a text message meant for his mistress. She came home, and the rest is soon to be penis-chopping history

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Renault Z.E: France takes centre stage for electric vehicle production

The Twizy Z.E. Concept and the Fluence Z.E. Concept span Europe and the Middle East
Renault will be producing the Twizy Z.E Concept at its plant in Valladolid, to the north-west of Madrid, in 2011. The body and assembly plant has been chosen for its performance and expertise in manufacturing compact cars.

Read More >>>>>>>

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Motorist in England and Wales face new victim tax!

Motorists in England and Wales fined for minor offences face having to pay bigger penalties under a government scheme to compensate victims of crime.

£15 surcharge

Read More.>>>>>>

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Pivo 2 Unbelievable cuttie

Still waiting to be made <(^;^)>

As the Frankfurt Auto Show  has finished, it is came time to open new shows and to view new cars, the next show, that I am going to pay my attention at is – Tokyo Motor Show.

The funniest and the most unusual model of this show will be (I am almost sure) an electric-powered Pivo 2 concept car from Nissan manufacturer. Pivo looks like a space ship and has the most bold design of the year and may be the following years as well.

The Nissan Pivo is a concept car created by Nissan. The Pivo was first introduced at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show. The car is essentially a 360 degree rotating three-seater cabin on a chassis of 4 wheels, and hence eliminates the need for reversing and makes parking easier.

The Pivo is powered by a lithium-ion battery. The car’s futuristic design incorporates large doors for easy access to the cabin and large windscreens and windows for high visibility. As well as the fully rotational cabin, the Pivo features Nissan’s Around View Monitor system. This reduces blind spots (areas of the road which cannot be seen from the driver’s position) by displaying the outside surroundings on screens mounted on the inside of the car’s A-pillars, located on either side of the windshield.

An updated version of the concept, designated Pivo 2 was unveiled in 2007. The wheels have been moved to rotating pods that allow the car to drive in any direction. Along with the rotating cabin, this allows the car to pull up next to a parking space, and instead of conventional parallel parking, the wheels and cab simply rotate 90°, and the car drives in sideways. The rotating cab also now has only one door (the front of the cab itself), allowing passengers to exit or enter from any direction desired.

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20 Awesome concept cars

Cars we will never Drive,

A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car prototype made to showcase a concept, new styling, technology and more. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced.

General Motors designer Harley Earl is generally credited with inventing the concept, or show, car, and did much to popularize it through its traveling Motorama shows of the 1950s.

Concept cars never go into production directly; in modern times all would have to undergo many changes before the design is finalized for the sake of practicality, safety and cost. A “production-intent” vehicle, as opposed to a concept vehicle, serves this purpose.

……………20 of the best

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Schumacher makes shock F1 return

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher has signed a one-year deal to return to Formula One racing with Mercedes GP for the 2010 season, Bild.de reported on Tuesday evening.

Having retired in 2006, Schumacher, who turns 41 on January 3, will be paid seven million euros ($A11.39 million) to be on the grid when the new season starts with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 14 2010, Bild report.

It will be 1,239 days after his last Formula One race in Sao Paulo at the Brazilian Grand Prix in October 2006 and Schumacher joins Mercedes in an all-German racing team after compatriot Nico Rosberg, 24, signed up last month.

Bild report Schumacher signed the contract on Tuesday at Mercedes’ headquarters in Brackley, England, to return to Formula One having won 91 of his 250 Grand Prix races and started in pole position 68 times.

Schumacher had been due to make a remarkable return last season for Ferrari – for whom he acted as a consultant after retiring – as a replacement for the injured Felipe Massa but was unable to because of a neck injury.

Schumacher’s signature is a major coup for Mercedes, who raced under the Brawn GP banner last season, and a blow to Schumacher’s former stable Ferrari.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo admitted last week he is distraught at the prospect of losing Schumacher to a rival team.

Di Montezemolo started working with Schumacher in 1996, when the German joined the Italian constructor from Benetton.

It was the Italian who first suggested to Schumacher he stand in for the injured Massa after the Brazilian’s horrific crash at the Hungarian Grand Prix in July.

It was me that rekindled his desire to race after Massa was injured in Hungary, the Ferrari chief had said.

Di Montezemolo admits he would have liked to see Schumacher back in a Ferrari but, with Massa and Fernando Alonso already on their books for next season, he simply could not offer the German a drive.

Schumacher will be linking up with Mercedes’s team principal Ross Brawn, who was the brains behind all of Schumacher’s seven world titles.

The German won the first of his World Drivers’ Championship titles at Bennetton in 1994 and and was successful with the Italian team again in the 1995 season.

In 1996, he transferred to Ferrari where he proved virtually unbeatable between 2000 and 2004, winning five further world titles and there will be huge interest in the impact Schumacher and Brawn will have now for Mercedes.

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