Devilish “U” Turn

Devilish “U” Turn

Devilish “U” Turn

The highway from Taiyuan to Ningwu was renovated in 1997, renamed as the Taijia Highway, and later changed again to the Taik Highway. At the 31k+700m mark on this road lies an extremely sharp and steep “U” turn. For passing vehicles, it is as terrifying as the Bermuda Triangle. From October 1997 to the present, almost every week there is at least one vehicle accident occurring on this deadly “U” turn. In addition to these fatal accidents, on average, one vehicle per week experiences some form of traffic accident on this treacherous “U” turn.

Reasons for Fatalities:

This turn is a steep, sharp curve with a small radius and a steep longitudinal slope. Moreover, while typical turns are designed higher on the outside and lower on the inside for better control, this one is the opposite — higher on the inside and lower on the outside. As a result, vehicles often experience greater centrifugal force than centripetal force when navigating it, making rollovers more likely. Additionally, this is the last turn on the route from Taiyuan to Gujiao. After driving down a long stretch of downhill road, drivers tend to become mentally fatigued and their attention may waver. Even more dangerously, the braking systems of some vehicles have been overheated by the friction of the preceding downhill section, reducing their braking effectiveness. Drivers unfamiliar with the road, upon suddenly encountering this unexpectedly sharp turn, may slam on the brakes. This can easily lead to brake failure, forcing them to turn the steering wheel sharply. But if the wheel is turned too hard, the vehicle may flip due to the immense inertia; if not turned hard enough, it could veer off the slope, resulting in a devastating crash.