In addition, to the hazard perception test article, this article takes a closer look in the Hazard perception setion of the theory test.  

Why the need for the hazard perception test?

Each year 3,600 people are killed on Britain's roads. Improved hazard perception skills are expected to play an important part in achieving the Government's challenging casualty reduction targets.

Young drivers (17-21) make up only 7% of all licence holders yet they are involved in up to one in seven accidents involving injury. The accident liability of new drivers drops sharply over the first 12 months or so after passing the test and continues to fall as more experience is gained.

Young drivers have quicker reactions than older drivers. However, the more experienced driver scans the road better and recognises the clues that show a hazardous situation is developing much earlier and therefore starts to take action before the danger occurs. This is one of the reasons why accident involvement generally reduces as experience is gained.

New drivers take much longer (up to two seconds longer) to recognise hazardous situations than more experienced drivers.

What Hazards Are We Looking For?

Look for events occurring in front of the car such as:-
•    School crossing and bus waiting with children crossing road
•    Breakdown vehicle on bend
•    Vans parked with hazard warning lights on
•    Cyclist on country road
•    Vehicle doing U turn on brow of hill
•    Furniture vans parked on bend (door open) with oncoming traffic
•    Green traffic light turns on approach
•    Parked vehicles/road works

Look for something joining the car's path such as:-
•    Car emerging from left
•    Stray dog by kerb
•    Zebra crossing with pedestrians crossing
•    Vehicle emerges from left in road dip
•    Pedestrian trying to cross road
•    Car looking as though it may join traffic from right
•    Woman with pushchair ready to cross road
•    Blind man with dog by kerb
•    Vehicle edging out of side road from right
•    Zebra crossing with pedestrian crossing
•    Bus pulling out
•    Car late stopping at left hand junction

Look for event occurring in the opposite traffic such as:-
•    Vehicle turning right across traffic
•    Car stopping in road to collect passenger
•    Parked car and oncoming car

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