What are the most dangerous roads / mountain passes in the lower 48

california, washington state and oregon are 3 states you don't want to be i went to washington state once and i will never go there again unless i take a plane

 

I-70 west of Denver as far as the interstates go... really though, winter mountain driving is like anything else. I this an developed technique and not something to be afraid of. I saw more trucks wrecked on I-40 in New Mexico last winter than I did on Cabbage in Oregon.

Just slow down and stay within yourself.

 

Chain up doggy dogg learn how to do it right, right now usually you will find a pass in every state 11 West where you will need to chain I order to proceed. In reality 95 % of the time you will not run longer than 50 miles max on chains. A lot of drivers just shut it down. Winter weather road advisories are ur best friends. Washington ain't too bad driver. Personally I'd be a lot more worried about Colorado.

 

Mountain driving is just a part of life if you're going to be an OTR driver. Their is nothing to scared of, but you should have a healthy respect for steep grades. I would recommend that you choose a company with a throrough traing program that teaches you proper techniques for mountain driving. Stevens Transport has a great program, Pride has a good one, TMC, and Melton are also good. If you understand the physics involves and know the limitations of your rig, you will be fine. When it comes to driving these passes in the winter, just use common sense. Know the road ahead. Nowadays we have such access to info over the web, it's pretty easy to find out whether its safe to proceed or if its time to shut it down.

Ive driven all the major passes in the winter. I've gone over Donner in the snow, Vail in sleet and freezing rain, Cabbage and Snoqualmie with snow on the ground and came through it fine. Drivers do it every day and accidents are relatively rare. The state DOT will close the roads if conditions are too bad. But like I said, use your training and a little common sense.

 

Dont forget Donner too. Are those that you all named worst then the mou tains at Jellico in 75 in Tennessee and Kentucky?

 

theyre all steeper than Jellico. Jellico is about a 4% grade. Those that I named are 6% to 7% grades. Monteagle on I-24 in TN is also a 6% grade.

 

Ah. Never been west of Kansas City, MO so wasnt sure. Been over Jellico millions of time as that is where my ancestors are from.

 

Kansas has a lot of really dangerous roads without guardrails. Why you could slip right off the side of the road, and be lost forever. And the hills... them hills could keep you chuggin' up them all day long!



Seriously, some of the narrow back roads in places like Kentucky and Alabama are worse than any of the mountain passes in the west. You might have 6 inches or a foot of space on each side of a 102" wide truck, with on-coming traffic. And... if you go off the edge of the pavement, there is no shoulder, and a drop of 50' into one of the innumerable hollows along the road.