Most inter-city roads are two lanes, and motorists attempting to pass other vehicles may encounter oncoming traffic at high speeds. Driving at night can be especially dangerous, and there have been reports of motorists being robbed and carjacked. Travel on mountain roads is treacherous in rain and snow, and heavy snowfalls can cause some roads to become impassable. Travel in separatist-controlled Abkhazia remains dangerous, and Americans are urged to avoid travel to the region. There has been terrorist activity in Abkhazia with outbreaks of fighting, including attacks on international observers.
Land mines pose a threat to all travelers in Abkhazia.
The U.S. Government does not recognize an independent Abkhazia separate from the Republic of Georgia. Restricted access to Abkhazia severely restricts the American Embassy's ability to assist U.S. citizens even in emergencies. The U.S. Embassy advises American citizens traveling in areas near Western Georgia and the Abkhaz border, including Zugdidi and the Enguri River Valley, to be aware of their surroundings at all times and to avoid straying off the main roads or traveling after dark. Terrorist activities occurred in 1998 around Gali and Zugdidi. These incidents included the mining of roads, the attacking and kidnapping of international observers, and bombing incidents.