Hazard perception what is a hazard

When driving a car, hazards can come from all directions and can emerge from most road traffic situations. As learner drivers taking lessons out on the road with a driving instructor, you will encounter such hazards on a regular basis. In doing so, you will learn a great deal about taking and passing the hazard perception test, particularly what constitutes a hazard, and in what environment or situation a hazard is likely to appear. Always think of the driving test as being a single entity - not three separate tests.

Practicing for the hazard perception test will help you pass the practical driving test, and vise versa. Below is a list of common road traffic hazards that you will experience while driving.

These hazards will appear in the hazard test, as potential and actual hazards. When taking the test, if any of these potential hazards or situations are seen, you should ask yourself how they, potential hazards, may turn into actual hazards. Always be thinking 'what if? Residential streets are full of potential hazards as they contain not just moving road traffic but pedestrians, cyclists and parked vehicle restricting views and movement.

Look out for:. If you are a learner driver who lives in a city or large town, it may be that you will never have a driving lesson on a rural road. This unfamiliarity with rural driving increases the likelihood that a rural hazard will appear in the hazard perception test, as the DVSA want to prepare you for the day you do drive on a rural road.

Prior to passing the driving test, a learner driver is not permitted to drive on a motorway, and most newly qualified drivers do not have additional motorway driving lessons. The result of this is that most newly qualified drivers have very little practical experience of driving on motorways, there is, however, a motorway section to learn for the theory test. To help learner drivers learn about motorway driving, I think it is likely a motorway hazard will form part of the hazard test.

To prepare and practice for the hazard perception test, try testing yourself. The earlier you click on a developing hazard, the more points you will score. Although there is no overall hazard perception click limit, clicking lots of times in quick succession or clicking with a regular pattern all the way through the clip will result in you scoring a zero for the clip.

There will be a window of time in which you need to click, beginning as soon as a potential hazard turns into a developing hazard, and ending when it becomes a full-blown hazard e.

The sooner you click within this window, the more points you earn. Clicking once the hazard has already developed fully will also score you a 0. You will know that your click has been registered because a red flag will appear in the bottom corner of the screen.

You can score up to 5 marks on each hazard. The maximum score on the hazard perception test is 75, and learner drivers will need to score 44 to pass. That means your average hazard perception score for each hazard needs to be at least 2.

The hazard perception section of the test will come after the multiple choice theory test questions. You will be given the choice to either have a short break or to go straight into watching the clips. Parents and supervisors. Road rules.

Safe driving tips. Cycling Laws. My car licence Driving is one of the riskiest daily activities that you'll do so preparing yourself and your vehicle is vital. My motorcycle licence Riding a motorcycle is enjoyed by people of all ages. However, compared to driving other road vehicles, riding a motorcycle can place you at higher risk than others.

If you are involved in a crash, the chances of being injured are very high. Help with account set up and authentication More help with account setup and authentication. Share this page: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn.