The winter thaw is happening in Maine and for many people who have become tired of the darkness and cold, it's a welcomed respite. But as every good Mainer knows, the end of winter in the Pine Tree State always comes with terms and conditions.

Those terms and conditions include some very intrusive road hazards. Some are simply annoying and others could cause some serious damage to your vehicle and put a dent in your wallet.

Pothole Season Has Returned to Maine Yet Again

While there are four traditional seasons in Maine, there are also a few extra that natives to the state are all too familiar with. One of those is pothole season.

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Potholes form from cracks in the pavement that are weakened over the course of the winter until they turn into potholes. Potholes have become an incredible nuisance for drivers in Maine causing substantial damage to vehicles and financial pain to individuals. Because of the extra cold winter Maine just endured, potholes will be more prevalent this spring.

Frost Heaves Are Worse Than Normal This Spring in Maine

Similar to potholes, frost heaves are a nasty road hazard that lead to substantial vehicle damage. They're the product of water seeping under the paved surface, freezing and then expanding leading to bumps in the roadway big and small.

Unlike potholes however, frost heaves can be very difficult for drivers to spot, especially at higher rates of speed. Because of a wet and very cold winter, the frost heaves in Maine this year are particularly bad.

Don't Assume Large Puddles on Maine Roadways Are Harmless

In some parts of Maine, there's going to be significant snow melt in the coming weeks. Pair that with rainy conditions and many roads will be inundated with large puddles.

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As any good insurance agent will tell you, driving through a large puddle without a care in the world can cost you. Those puddles can hide potholes, frost heaves and several other potentially damaging hazards. Go slow and be smart when approaching large scale puddles in the road.


The Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles in Maine

It's very possible that the car you're driving around every day is one of the most targeted vehicles in our Pine Tree State to steal, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

Gallery Credit: Jordan Verge

LOOK: Cool Car Features We Kind of Miss

Kids these days don't know what they're missing out on! But hey, let's be real, some of those old car features were pretty awesome. Yeah, they might've been a bit risky and even tried to kill us, but they made our rides feel way cooler.

Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz

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