Traffic

Great Road Journeys

John

Bolivia’s Yungas region boasts two of the most dangerous roads in the world. All I can say about the one in this video, Yungas Road, or Death Road, is “I’m glad it’s them and not me!” Warning: viewing the video full-screen will give you better idea of the danger… but might give you acrophobia!

The uploader’s notes (as translated by Google) read, “Through Yungas, DEATH ROAD, The world’s most dangerous road. By one estimate, two vehicles crashed a month and 200 to 300 travellers were killed yearly along the road. That is why you will find numerous roadside crosses marking the accident sites.” The “todesstrasse” in the video title means “death road”.

Death Road was featured on the BBC’s The World’s Most Dangerous Roads, with Phill Jupitus and Marcus Brigstocke.

Traffic choreography

John

Compared to Melbourne traffic, this looks chaotic… until you take a closer look. Sure there are heaps of vehicles passing through the intersection, but they all flow so smoothly that you’d reckon the scene had been choreographed. No one seems to get upset because they’ve been cut off, no one tries to take another driver’s place, and even when a few stragglers are caught in the middle when the light changes no one seems to mind. Most important… no accidents – not even a close shave.

Melbourne drivers could take some lessons on patience and sharing from this video! I guess it comes down to a difference between Eastern and Western attitudes.

The video’s uploader commented, “Video taken on May 15, 2010, 6.00 PM at KFC rooftop, Nguyen Cahn Cha intersection, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. Watching Saigon traffic is truly an exhilarating experience, crossing the streets is another story!”