In Pennsylvania, winter and spring driving can become a real obstacle course.

You steer right to swerve around a pothole.You jerk left, just missing another, larger hole that is waiting to swallow a tire.This back-and-forth technique, which many Pennsylvanians have perfected over the driving seasons, is becoming the norm across the state as potholes are popping up quicker than the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and municipalities can patch them.How do potholes form?According to a diagram on the PennDOT website on how they form, potholes begin after snow or rain seeps into the soil below the road surface.When temperatures drop to below freezing, the moisture freezes, causing the ground to expand and push the pavement up.As the temperature rises, the ground returns to its normal level, but the pavement that was pushed up remains raised, creating a gap between pavement and ground.When a vehicle drives over this portion of pavement, it cracks and falls into the gap, thus creating a pothole.How potholes are fixedPotholes don't fix themselves, but they also can't be fixed unless PennDOT knows where they are.Sean Brown, safety press officer for PennDOT Engineering District 5, said it is important that drivers report potholes so PennDOT can fix them."We have been receiving many reports of potholes from the public," Brown said. "Our workers can't know every issue on the roadways, so it is very helpful when motorists report any issue with the roads."Potholes on local roads in municipalities, on the other hand, should be reported to that town.To determine if a pothole is along a state route or town road, Kira Steber, Summit Hill borough secretary, said that people should note the road names.If the road in question has a SR number in addition to its municipal street name, like SR902 in Summit Hill is also called Pine Street, then report potholes along that road to PennDOT, Steber said."Typically the numbered routes are owned by PennDOT, but smaller roadways it can be difficult for the public to determine who owns the road," Brown added.If a person isn't sure, Brown said to call PennDOT and officials can help determine whose road that is.Where are the pothole problem spots?PennDOT crews have been out working to patch a number of problem areas throughout District 5, including Mill Road in Mahoning Township, which many Times News readers reported as a major problem road. However, there are still an number of potholes popping tires and causing white-knuckle driving.The Times News asked Facebook followers for locations of large potholes.The readers responded with plenty of locations, including Gypsy Hill Road in Lehighton; Route 443 that stretches through West Penn Township and Lehighton; Bertsch Street in Lansford; and Forest Inn and Fireline roads in Palmerton.In addition, some readers said that there are numerous areas in Tamaqua, East Penn Township, Lansford, McAdoo, Hazleton, Nesquehoning and pretty much everywhere, but gave no specific locations.A few readers even said that pretty much all of Pennsylvania is a pothole right now and drivers can't drive down a road without encountering at least a few.But there is good news coming this summer for Pennsylvania drivers, Brown said."Thanks to the state's transportation funding plan, once winter is over we will be resurfacing more roads and fixing more bridges this year," he said. "With Pennsylvania's aggressive freeze-thaw cycle we will always see potholes, but the funding bill will ensure that our forces and the private sector can reconstruct roadways on which we could previously only patch potholes."This, combined with revenue for much needed and long-delayed projects, will bring tremendous benefits to Pennsylvanians," he said.