The 10 Most Dangerous Countries to Drive In

Driving can be dangerous business no matter where you decide to get behind the wheel. Of course, driving in some countries is more harrowing than others. Myriad factors can make a country unsafe for driving. Of course, weather and economic development are factors. Driving over icy roads or weaving around livestock on the highway can cause accidents. Culture also plays a large part in the varying levels of driver safety around the world. A culture that perceives traffic laws as mere guidelines or weak law enforcement can lead to more accidents than snow or potholes.

There are some countries where multiple factors combine to create a perfect storm on the highways and byways. From the congested roads of Southeast Asia to the wintry interstates of the former Soviet Block, here are the 10 Most Dangerous Countries to Drive In.

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Annual Automobile Fatalities: 127 deaths per million inhabitants

South Korea is the king of road deaths in the developed world, posting 5,500 automobile fatalities last year. The situation has become so grave that the government has instituted unmanned traffic drones to monitor reckless drivers.

Unlike underdeveloped countries and countries with harsh climates, the reason behind the high accident rate in South Korea is largely cultural. Koreans "do not consider the traffic laws to be completely binding." It is common to see Korean drivers run red lights and make illegal turns if the driver deems the road safe enough. The notoriously high risk for accidents has made commuters skittish about pedestrian or bicycle travel, and as a result the roads are extremely congested, leading to even more accidents.

Annual Automobile Fatalities: 123 deaths per million inhabitants

One travel guide begins its primer on auto travel in this country with, "The majority of Hungarians drive dangerously." Hungarians are known for their carelessness and utter disregard for speed limits. The government has responded by instituting some of the harshest traffic laws in the world. Getting in a car accident can result in up to five years in jail. Even though the penalties are harsh, it still might be to report the accident. The Hungarian police may question you and fine you retroactively for unreported accidents at the border.

Annual Automobile Fatalities: 68 deaths per million inhabitants

Turkish driving is unsafe and unorthodox by American standards, so much so that the State Department has issued a very straightforward Driver's Safey Briefing in hopes of protecting American automobiles abroad. This briefing lists 25 "unexpected actions" that Americans should be prepared to see while cruising through Turkey, including; "unexpected stops or turns without turn signals for no apparent reason," "trucks parked at night on the highway with no lights on," "the use of stones rather than warning signs," and "oncoming drivers who play inscrutable light games." The government also provides some sage advice for driving in Istanbul at night: don't.

Annual Automobile Fatalities: 147 deaths per million inhabitants

"The headline stories on one of the Polish papers on June 13th made typical reading. Four people killed when their car ploughed into a shop near Poznan; five dead after their car rolled off the tarmac and into a ditch along a rural road in the northwest."

So begins The Economist's look at the incredible number of recent road fatalities in Poland. 2011 saw 4,200 automobile related deaths in Poland. Increased police presence, road warnings, and even priests have been enlisted to encourage safe driving, but the auto mortality rate remains high. A self-centered driving culture, poorly maintained roads, sub par signage, and roads filled with older cars contribute to an estimated total of $6.5 billion in annual accident costs. The government has stated a commitment to half the number of road deaths by 2020, but it will be an uphill battle.

Annual Automobile Fatalities: 939 deaths per million inhabitants

With 235 annual fatalities per million inhabitants and 939 deaths per million vehicles, in Russia it is dangerous to get behind the wheel. If the treacherous road conditions don't get you, the corrupt traffic police will.

Journalist Marina Galperina describes Russian traffic police as, "known throughout the land for brutality, corruption, extortion, and making income on bribes." So, not only are you driving through the icy tundra, but if you get pulled over, you may have to contend with the meter maid incarnation of Denzel Washington's character in Training Day. A full third of the Russian people rate the traffic police as the country's most corrupt institution.

Even if you beat the weather and the police, Russia's drivers are disproportionately prone to road rage. All of these factors have contributed to the widespread installation of the dash cams that took all those sick videos of the Russian meteor last year. One take away from this could be "behind every cloud is a silver lining." A better take away might be "never drive in Russia."

Annual Automobile Fatalities: 4 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants

It isn't an uncommon sight to see green and white taxis fly past traffic police as the beleaguered officials do their best to stop them from blowing through the intersection. Nigerian driving culture has been described as impatient, which sounds like an understatement. Speed limits, traffic lanes, and road signs are mere suggestions to be ignored if you are in a hurry in the eyes of many Nigerians.

In the rare instance when you are stopped for a traffic violation, a small bribe can get you back on the road in short order. With easily forged drivers licenses and a mere $30 fine for driving under the influence, there simply isn't much incentive for defensive driving in Nigeria.

Annual Automobile Fatalities: 37 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants

Traffic deaths are the third leading cause of mortality in Libya. Of course, the recent civil unrest has made driving more difficult in Libya, but it has never been a picnic. Prior to the civil war, Libya was still one of the most unsafe countries for drivers. Rampant substance abuse and a general disregard for traffic laws contribute to the dangerous conditions, and If you're really unlucky, wind-blown sands can overtake the road without warning and make an already tricky situation impossible.

Annual Automobile Fatalities: 40.5 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants

Some recent statistics on drivers in the UAE include the following: Four out of ten motorists will drive with a child on their lap, less than 80 percent of the drivers wear their seat belt, and 15 percent of backseat passengers buckle up.

Reckless behavior extends outside the car as well. In the first three months of 2009, 300,000 speeding tickets were doled out in the city of Al Ain alone. There are many theories about what brings about these shocking statistics. Max Fisher of The Atlantic posits that much of the problem lies in how citizens view the government. He writes, "Individuals, who often live off lavish subsidies, are accustomed to seeing the government as something that gives out money, not as a regulatory and policing body." That being said, a national speed limit of 100 mph probably doesn't help either.

Annual Automobile Fatalities: 41.6 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants

Cairo is considered the most difficult city for drivers in the world. Many countries will not honor an Egyptian drivers license and even seasoned Egyptian motorists report problems getting around the automotive maze of the city. The U.S. State Department recommends that drivers prepare for unlit vehicles at night, vehicles travelling the wrong way on one-way streets, and a variety of animals on the road. Even the traffic lights don't work in Cairo.

The U.S. Government warns "intersections are staffed by policemen who use subtle finger movements to indicate which cars may move." Driving in Cairo is especially dangerous during the rare winter rains, which introduce flooding into the already impossible situation.

Annual Automobile Fatalities: 48.4 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants

If you head to Eritrea, you won't be driving outside of the capital city of Asmara without explicit government permission, and this is probably a good thing. Eritrea is the world's worst country to drive in; the country has the highest mortality rate among motorists and it isn't close. Though paved roads connect the six major cities in the country, most roads outside of urban centers are unpaved and in poor condition. Road signs and guardrails are largely non-existent. Livestock and pedestrians clog the roads. There is a complete lack of traffic law enforcement. And as if all of this didn't make driving in Eritrea bad enough, gas prices there are the highest in the world.