(WHTM) -- Sooner than later, we will be into spring. Spring brings flowers, blooming trees, and the one thing that everyone despises: potholes.

According to a AAA survey, one in 10 drivers sustained some kind of vehicle damage significant enough to be repaired after hitting a pothole in 2021. But how do these annoying road features form?

Generally, potholes form when groundwater seeps underneath the pavement. If this water freezes, it will expand, causing the pavement above the frozen water to expand. This expansion can lead to bending and cracking of the pavement. When the process of melting and freezing occurs over a long period, this leads to the pavement becoming weaker.

When a car drives over the weekend pavement, this causes the pavement to break down. Pieces of the roadway will come loose and cause openings, which is how a pothole forms.

Potholes can become larger by the hole filling with water, freezing, and then breaking off even more of the pavement, according to AAA. Most potholes form during winter. However, they become more noticeable during the spring, when the temperatures are warmer and the ice and snow melt off the roads.

Potholes can cause plenty of damage to vehicles, such as wheel and tire damage, car alignment damage, and in some cases, engine and transmission damage if the pothole is large enough.

PennDOT states that in 2016, it invested $35.2 million in pothole repairs, using nearly 53,000 tons of asphalt. They encourage motorists to report potholes on state-owned roadways by calling 1-800-FIX-ROAD or by clicking here.