Reply to: Ice Road Truckers: Deadliest Roads

[VectraMan]

Who's showing it? C5?

Discovery History I think. Presumably Five will have it at some point.

[TimberWolf]

Who's showing it? C5?

Yes, but I've not seen it yet.

[gricerboy]

So did anyone see the new one? The Indian roads were insane because of the other traffic as much as anything, but that road in Bolivia was little more than a one-lorry wide dirt track without even stones marking the edge.

Who's showing it? C5?

[VectraMan]

So did anyone see the new one? The Indian roads were insane because of the other traffic as much as anything, but that road in Bolivia was little more than a one-lorry wide dirt track without even stones marking the edge.

[TimberWolf]

Every year it is estimated 200 to 300 people die on a stretch of road less than 50 miles long. In one year alone, 25 vehicles plunged off the road and into the ravine. That is one every two weeks.

BBC NEWS | Programmes | From Our Own Correspondent | The world's most dangerous road

Yungas Road - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[TimberWolf]

Not even 10 tonnes

There are hundreds of those trucks driving along those roads every day

The 1 killed every 4.5 minutes figure is for the whole of India, not just the roads the truckers are on

It would be interesting to see the accident statistics for the roads used in the series.

[Spacecadet]

How many would be willing to drive a wooden lorry carrying 60 tonnes of cement along narrow mountain cliff roads though?

Not even 10 tonnes

There are hundreds of those trucks driving along those roads every day

The 1 killed every 4.5 minutes figure is for the whole of India, not just the roads the truckers are on

[TimberWolf]

Decided to just download this and watch a few over the weekend.
A few points:
a) the yanks/canuks are a bunch of whining ponces. Everything is too heavy, too slow, too fast, too steep, too narrow, too whatever whilst the local drivers are constantly having to blast their horns to get past.

b) The show is really over edited to emphasise the jeapordy

c) The editing almost turns the whole thing into a fictional account of their time there. In one episode Rick magically passes several miles of stationary traffic to end up behind Lisa

The danger aspect did wear off in the second episode. How many would be willing to drive a wooden lorry carrying 60 tonnes of cement along narrow mountain cliff roads though?

Lisa was sweet taking that dog - and almost killing herself looking at it playing on the dashboard.

[Spacecadet]

Decided to just download this and watch a few over the weekend.
A few points:
a) the yanks/canuks are a bunch of whining ponces. Everything is too heavy, too slow, too fast, too steep, too narrow, too whatever whilst the local drivers are constantly having to blast their horns to get past.

b) The show is really over edited to emphasise the jeapordy

c) The editing almost turns the whole thing into a fictional account of their time there. In one episode Rick magically passes several miles of stationary traffic to end up behind Lisa

[VectraMan]

I watched the Bolivia Special Top Gear again last night (on BBC HD and probably 2).

If you're watching the latest IRT, they've got Rick back but he's being completely out-attitude problem'ed by new boy Dave Redmon. I can't imagine what he'd be like on those Bolivian roads. Also they've got the Canadians back in Canada, which they obviously much prefer. The Americans seem a lot more health and safety conscious.

[TimberWolf]

with a wave of my magic google wand

And with Wiki's magic wand:

IRT: Deadliest Roads - Season 2: South America

The second season of IRT: Deadliest Roads premiered on September 25, 2011. Six North American drivers are sent to Bolivia to haul cargo along the Yungas Road, notorious for its extreme hazards. The drivers work in pairs - Hugh Rowland and Rick Yemm, Lisa Kelly and Dave Redmon, and newcomers Tim Zickuhr and Agustin "Tino" Rodriguez. Dave and Rick quit in the second episode; Hugh continues driving alone, while Texas trucker G.W. Boles arrives to ride with Lisa in the fourth episode.
Ice Road Truckers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Yungas road is a lot safer now than it used to be, according to the Wiki.

[PAH]

BBC News - India: Darjeeling bridge collapse kills 32

I doubt that the same bridge they had in the show.

Also doubt the bridge in the show was even on the route. Even those cut out cliff sections looked deserted compared to earlier on 'the same road'.

My gut feeling is they staged some of the segments on roads that are closed, or were closed for filming purposes as Top Gear does, so they have more control over 'incidents'.

Still, more entertaining that mediocre dancing and singing contests so mustn't complain too loudly.

[chef]

Where was the "most dangerous road... in the world" they had on a TopGear special?

with a wave of my magic google wand

The North Yungas Road (alternatively known as Grove's Road, Coroico Road, Camino de las Yungas, El Camino de la Muerte, Road of Death or Death Road) is a 61 or 69-kilometre road leading from La Paz to Coroico, 56 kilometres (35 mi) northeast of La Paz in the Yungas region of Bolivia.

It is legendary for its extreme danger and in 1995 the Inter-American Development Bank christened it as the "world's most dangerous road". One estimate is that 200 to 300 travellers were killed yearly along the road. The road includes crosses marking many of the spots where vehicles have fallen. From:Yungas Road - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[TimberWolf]

Indeed I can only conclude that the sole reason is to make a TV program - there must be locals who drive just as well and more in keeping with the other local suicide jockeys.

Edit: There's also no way the Spetics and Canuks are cheaper than locals - so it has to be just for the Telly.

You have to imagine you are there, in the seat, rather than it just being 'someone else who can die for all you care'. One of the quarter of a million who have accidents per year.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

On the contrary, just goes to show what a bunch of complete wusses the Ice Road truckers really are - given that many people drive on these roads on a daily basis.

Indeed I can only conclude that the sole reason is to make a TV program - there must be locals who drive just as well and more in keeping with the other local suicide jockeys.

Edit: There's also no way the Spetics and Canuks are cheaper than locals - so it has to be just for the Telly.