Most defective roadways are the simple result of basic wear and tear. Millions of vehicles cross hundreds of roads in South Carolina, and each passing automobile creates additional stress on a roadway. Weather also plays an important role in the degradation of a roadway.
It is government entity’s responsibility to monitor roadway conditions and make improvements or corrections when an area of a roadway becomes unsafe.
Most roadways are layers of material, so as one layer weakens and comes apart, it can also create additional damage to lower layers.
However, some defects in roadways are not because of defects in the roadway materials, but because something external, such as fallen trees, rock slides, or downed power poles, is on the roadways and making them hazardous. The government is responsible for removing these unexpected dangers from roadway.
Additionally, the government could be responsible when important traffic signs or signals are obstructed by overgrown bushes or tree branches, or they have otherwise become inoperative.