Avoiding the major roads/popular routes is an effective means of avoiding these types of problems. The criminals aren't interested in setting up an overnight road-block robbery/car-jacking where zero wealthy targets pass through.

I also think people in general tend to disproportionately exaggerate risks relative to the actual probabilities. Something exceptionally brazen and bad happens a few times making it into the news and now it's certain to happen to you should you go there.

Regardless though, if an alternative exists with 100% fewer reports of such problems, it's probably a safer choice relatively speaking.

But in my limited experience I have never found a "dangerous" place to be anywhere near as dangerous as its reputation described.