A Bizarre Name for a Frightening Place
The term "Chicken Road" is not an ode to poultry, nor does it have anything to do with culinary delights or fowl play. Located in South Carolina’s notorious Highway 29, this infamous stretch of asphalt has earned its name due to the alarming number of fatalities that occur here each year. While most travelers avoid areas known for their poor safety record and high accident rates, Chicken Road seems to defy logic and common sense by proudly flaunting its title.
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The eerie moniker "Chicken Road" originates from a long-forgotten incident that has become an urban legend. It’s said that back in the 1970s or perhaps even earlier, an inexperienced truck driver named Charles Smith found himself lost on Highway 29 while hauling a trailer loaded with chickens for a poultry farm. According to accounts from locals and online forums, as he careened down this perilous stretch of road at breakneck speed, a flock of panicked birds inside the trailer caused chaos by scratching their metal enclosure fiercely.
In an unfortunate twist of fate, Smith lost control over his massive vehicle, which veered into oncoming traffic. Several other drivers were injured or even killed that fateful night when they tried to swerve out of its way in time – adding up to at least 7 reported fatalities within a short period during that same year alone. Some speculate that this tragic series might’ve triggered the road’s peculiar nickname: ‘Chicken Road.’
A Hazard-Ridden Corridor
From its dark beginnings, Highway 29 became notorious worldwide as one of America’s deadliest driving routes outside big cities like Los Angeles or New York City due primarily to two principal causes:
- Speed : High-speed traffic has long been rampant along this section. It attracts drivers who are eager to push their limits despite being a highway that should normally serve slower local traffic and occasional trucking activity only.
- Limited Visibility & Sharp Curves : This stretch often includes blind spots due largely in part because numerous trees obstruct any potential line-of-sight while negotiating sharp bends making it increasingly difficult for drivers navigating this hazardous terrain to stay alert.
Fatalities Galore
As per national statistics published by the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) between January 2019 and July 2022, an estimated total loss occurred along Highway 29 exceeding a staggering 30 people lost their lives , which amounts roughly one fatality for every approximately two miles traveled. Moreover, numerous incidents involving critical injuries continue pouring forth each month.
The statistics reveal that almost all fatalities (over 70%) involved drivers speeding well past the designated limit while driving towards downtown cities such as Lexington or Columbia after midnight on weekends during periods when they’re expected to be more vigilant due excessive speed combined with complete lack of visibility.