WHAT IS HAZARD PERCEPTION?

It's the ability to quickly identify situations that force a driver to take avoiding action. Hazard perception requires skills such as reading the road, scanning, using appropriate speed and planning well ahead. That is why it is better to have as much driving experience as possible before taking the hazard perception test

Good scanning, spotting potential hazards quickly and anticipating the actions of other road users is critical to road safety and it's something that new drivers are not that good at but it comes with practise and experience!

 

New drivers can take up to two seconds longer to recognise hazardous situations. More experienced drivers recognise the clues that show the danger is developing and take action before the danger occurs.

You can try out your Hazard Perception on our own hazard perception simulators at the office

HOW CANDIDATES WILL TAKE HPT

You will use video clips to show candidates real road traffic situations. The clips will feature traffic or potential hazards of various types, including other vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, for a candidate to identify within a time frame. Click on the mouse when you see a developing hazard ie one that would need to force you to change your speed or direction and the earlier you click the more marks you receive.

Each test will be designed to present a mix of hazard types. A clip will contain at least one hazard and some will contain two

The HPT element of the theory test is about fifteen minutes. You will have time for a short familiarisation session to show candidates what to expect. The whole theory test session is now sixty minutes

Marking for the tests

In the current theory test of multiple choice questions, a candidate has to successfully answer 30 out of 35 questions. Candidate need to achieve a pass mark in both the multiple choice and HPT elements. Candidates who fail either test will need to re-take both tests

HINTS

Remember you are looking for a DEVELOPING and therefore MOVING hazard.

Although a bend or a zebra crossing is a hazard the test wants you to identify MOVING hazards.

 

 

 

TIP

Think MIRRORS- BRAKE –SWERVE. If at any time the scene would make you normally think any of MIRRORS- BRAKE –SWERVE then click and click for each item of MIRRORS- BRAKE –SWERVE. You may not get any points for the MIRRORS part but unless you click on BRAKE AND/OR SWERVE you may miss the scoring “window”

Look for warning signs on the clips which will often give clues as to what the hazard might be just as in real life

On each clip you may find the need to click  up to 10 times or more as there will be many other hazards in busy situations

 

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