What are some common causes for cracks in an asphalt driveway?

Cracks in an asphalt driveway are due to several factors. The first is preparation. The area to be covered is not properly cleaned and packed down, and so there is very little for the asphalt to bond to. With the first wet or cold weather, the asphalt starts to crack. Then, there's a problem with the temperature at which the work is done. If the ground or air is too cold, then the asphalt won't set correctly and may break up. Then, there's the usual cause of problems with asphalt in colder areas, the thaw/freeze process, that creates the car-eating potholes of New York.