World's Most Dangerous Road?
December 29, 2014 - It's called the world's most dangerous road. The Yungas Road in Bolivia has claimed many lives. Meet a man who helps direct traffic on this perilous, one-lane dirt road, and the mountain bikers who know it as home.
Transcript
Fernando Garcias (History Professor - Bolivian Catholic University):
Bolivia is a country with highlands and lowlands, and to link those two worlds was extremely difficult, especially because of the mountains. The Yungas Road was the first road for vehicles that connected the highlands with the lowlands.
Raul Mamani (Incan Shaman):
We have made a cha’lla (blessing) so that your trip goes well.
Fernando Garcias (History Professor - Bolivian Catholic University):
There is a lot of mysticism in Bolivia. It is believed that the dead now protect the passengers that use the road today. The road began construction in the thirties, where war prisoners participated in the construction. It was also a refuge for a few Nazi leaders who escaped and were able to hide here. Nowadays the memory of Klaus Barbie in Bolivia is a bad one. The road changed from a path for mules to a highway for vehicles.
Timoteo Apaza (Human Traffic Light):
In 1992, a Yungueña shipping truck rolled over because of the fog. Eight people died, and the majority were injured. I went up that morning to help, to lend a hand with the wounded. I hear about accidents every year, about sixteen trailers have crashed on this road. I was sad to leave them because they really needed me to tell them where to go. It makes me proud. Everybody knows I was the human stoplight.
Cesar Orihuela (Guide - Gravity Assisted Mountain Biking):
Every day is different. It rains, it snows, sometimes we have all four seasons in the same day. I grew up on this road. My family still has a house here and we still take trips to places around here. Since I was little I have seen accidents, I have seen how complicated the road is, how the people work trying to repair the road. This road has always been very dangerous, but it also really beautiful, the views are incredible. This road is really part of my life.