We anticipate that the widely reported trend of problems arising out of road surfaces, such as potholes and general surface degradation, is likely to continue upward both in relation to own policy and third party claims. Road surface issues give rise to risks not just in respect of vehicle damage but also for vulnerable road users such as cyclists and motorcyclists, with highway authorities increasingly having to defend their inspection and repair procedures. As own policy claims increase, it is likely that there will be a concomitant rise in recovery actions by motor insurers. Increased repair costs generally across the motor market are likely to have significant upward impact on the value of road surface related claims which, combined with a higher incidence of such claims, will result in a costlier claims area for insurers.