CAIRO — If the famed pyramids of Giza are the epitome of ancient Egypt, the chaotic road that brings tourists to the complex offers a bracing and authentic taste of the modern country.

The Ring Road, a 68-mile belt of rutted tarmac, is Cairo’s suburban speedway, eight lanes of churning traffic with a hint of Mad Max.

Souped-up clunkers and overcrowded buses, liberated from the clogged traffic of central Cairo, hurtle down the road, weaving perilously between lanes. Speed limit signs are treated as ornaments. Cars travel up ramps in the wrong direction. Motorists compare the drive to a thrilling video game.

Fatal accidents are frequent; shootouts are more occasional. Early Thursday, three militants were killed in a gunfight with police officers at a checkpoint along the road, the interior ministry said.