How to practice for the Hazard Perception Test

The Hazard Perception part of the Car Driving Theory test can be pretty nerve-wracking for the uninitiated. You have fourteen video clips showing everyday road situations, and you have to click the mouse as soon as you spot a developing hazard. A developing hazard is one where you, as a driver, would need to take some action such as changing speed or direction.

Hazard Perception is all about being able to read the road ahead of you. It’s not so much something that you can revise for, because it isn’t knowledge, but the skill and experience to be able to spot something that could have an impact on your driving. Some examples of potential hazards might be: a group of children playing with a ball – if the ball rolls out into the road a child might follow; a car that’s just pulled into a parking space on the left – the driver might open their door out into the carriageway; a car parked in the carriageway – you’ll have to slow down and look out for oncoming traffic before passing; slow moving vehicles; any vehicle that’s indicating; a vehicle at a junction – they might suddenly pull out; pedestrians, cyclists or horse-riders in narrow country lanes; pedestrian crossings; level crossings and many more.

To prepare for the test you can try the following:

• Be aware of the road ahead whenever you are driving or as a passenger. What could constitute a hazard ahead? How soon does the driver (if that’s not you) notice the potential hazard and start taking action? Either as a passenger or when you’re driving you could have a commentary with the other person in the car – what potential hazards can you both spot?
• The DVSA produces some great official learning materials to help you prepare, including an interactive DVD-ROM.
• There are several online mock Hazard Perception tests available, some free and some paid for, and it’s very helpful to have a go at a few of them until you are confident with how the clicks score. It is worth noting that the clips used in the Hazard Perception test have been updated and modernised with CGI to make them clearer. Many of the mock tests will still be using slightly fuzzier filmed clips. This won’t affect your Hazard Perception, and so are still relevant practice, but it’s worth bearing in mind.
• If you are a passenger and have children in the car, how about making a “hazard bingo” game to play with them. Make copies of a list of potential hazards to spot, whoever spots one and calls it out first gets to tick it on their list. The winner is the passenger who spotted the most potential hazards first.

Basically the more experience you have of looking at the road ahead of you the better your driving will be and the more likely you are to succeed at the Hazard Perception Test. It’s definitely worth having a go at mock tests as well though, as these give you the chance to familiarise yourself with the way the test works.

Book your driving lessons in Glasgow by contacting TX Driver Training on 0141 764 1213 now.