Madagascar's approximately 31,640-kilometer road network, largely unpaved and primarily oriented towards the capital, Antananarivo, poses significant transportation challenges. Over two-thirds of these roads are in poor condition, making travel dangerous due to hazards, impassability during the wet season, and threats from dahalo (bandits). While few Malagasy own private vehicles, long-distance travel relies heavily on often overpacked taxi brousses (bush taxis) or human-powered pousse-pousses (rickshaws), with random police checkpoints common. Historically, no roads existed before French colonial rule began in 1895, when construction started despite local resistance. Decades of minimal investment have left the country with a rudimentary system contributing to one of the world's highest car collision fatality rates and isolating many rural communities.