Vital Roads… But Deadly | Afghanistan, South Africa, India

Roads are vital lifelines for trade, travel, and human connection — yet some of them are among the deadliest places on Earth. The Salang Road in Afghanistan, the only link between Kabul and the country’s north, is constantly threatened by avalanches, terrorist attacks, and deadly accidents, but remains essential for transport and survival. In South Africa, Moloto Road is known as the “road of death,” plagued by catastrophic collisions, poor infrastructure, reckless driving, and alcohol-related crashes. Local spiritual beliefs even attribute the tragedies to dark forces, turning the road into a place of fear and ritual. In India, the treacherous Himalayan roads — especially the Rohtang Pass (“mountain of corpses”) — pose life-threatening challenges with narrow paths, landslides, stray animals, and frequent fatal crashes. Even maintenance work claims many lives. Crossing mountains, deserts, and crowded cities, these routes embody a stark paradox of modern life: they are essential for movement and survival, yet every journey on them could be the last. Director : Christian Schidlowski, Gerion Schiebel, Sven Jaax, Holger Preuße