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.

How The Driving Theory Test Isn’t As Bad As You Think

You’ve got your Provisional Licence and you may or may not have already started your driving lessons. Before you can even start thinking about your Practical Driving Test you need to pass your Theory Test. For some people this is a small hurdle to overcome, while some people worry so much about the Theory Test that it becomes a real obstacle. Let me reassure you. The Driving theory test almost certainly isn’t as bad as you think.

How does the driving theory test work?

There are two parts to the Driving Theory Test, and you need to pass both in the same sitting.

The first part is the Multiple Choice part. You will have fifty multiple choice questions to answer on all aspects of driving theory. Questions may be about stopping distances, first aid, what road markings or signs mean, considerate driving and many other scenarios you may come across on the road. Some questions may require more than one answer, or you may get several questions based on a brief case study. You have fifty-seven minutes to answer the questions, and can “flag” and go back to any you weren’t sure about. The pass mark is 43 questions correct out of 50. Provided that you prepare well there is nothing to worry about. If you have a Special Educational Need, you should let the test centre know about this when you book, as you can hear the questions being read out with earphones, or can be allowed extra time to complete the test.

The best ways to prepare for the multiple choice part of the driving theory test are:

• Read and digest The Highway Code
• The DVSA have provided an online learning programme, e-book, app, book and DVD to help with your preparation. As these are designed by the people who set the test, they are the very best preparation materials.
• You can also take a mock theory test provided by the DVSA on www.gov.uk/practise-your-driving-theory-test

The second part of the test is the Hazard Perception Test. On the computer screen you’ll be shown a short introductory video and then you will see a series of fourteen video clips, each lasting approximately one minute. Each clip will show an everyday road scene. In the clip you will see several potential hazards, one or two of which could start to develop to a point where you may need to change direction or speed. When you spot a hazard beginning to develop, you click with the mouse. The earlier in the developing hazard you click, the more points you score for that clip. You need to score 44 out of 75 to pass the Hazard Perception part of the test.

The best ways to prepare for the Hazard Perception Test are:

• 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? You could ask another driver to give you a commentary of potential hazards they spot as you drive and see if you spotted them too.
• The DVSA provide an interactive DVD-ROM and there are several free online mock Hazard Perception tests available, and it’s very helpful to have a go at a few of them until you are confident with how the clicks score.

Top Theory Test Tips

• Do your homework! The DVSA recommends about twenty hours revision and preparation for the test.
• Make sure that you know where the test centre is, and give yourself plenty of time to get there. Aim to be about thirty minutes early.
• Remember to take your photo-card provisional licence with you on the day.
• Before your test begins you get some time to familiarise yourself with the way the computer program and touch screen works with some practice questions. Make the most of this and flag up if there seem to be any problems with the technology or if there’s anything you don’t understand.
• In between the two parts of the test you get a three minute break. Use it to take some deep breaths, have a stretch and refocus ready for the Hazard Perception test.

To book your Glasgow Driving Lessons, contact TX Driver Training now on 0141 764 1213.

5 myths uncovered about learning to drive

Several myths have grown up around the whole process of learning to drive. Some are strange, but most are just plain wrong. Here we bust some of these myths:

1. Driving test examiners only pass a certain number of people per day.

This is completely untrue, and has probably been given as an excuse from somebody who was embarrassed at failing. Driving examiners do not have quotas. If you drive well enough in your test then you will pass. If you drive dangerously or make too many mistakes then you will fail. Examiners are professional, their “having a bad day” will not affect your chances of passing, and neither will you wearing a short skirt! You’ll sometimes hear this myth being passed on with the advice to “get your test in the morning, before they fill their quota”, ignore this advice, take your test at any time of day and the only thing that will affect your chances of passing is the quality of your driving.

2. Men are better drivers.

Again this is completely untrue. Statistics show that neither men nor women are better. While we are generalising here, in general, women are more careful and better able to anticipate danger, men are better able to manoeuvre the car. Men tend to require fewer lessons to pass their test, but women have fewer accidents so often get cheaper insurance.

3. Most people only need a few driving lessons to pass their test.

We all hear people telling us that they “only had six lessons” or something similar. The only way this could have happened is if they were taught by a friend or family member for many hours, before taking just a few lessons before their test. In most cases they are wildly exaggerating or have a very poor memory. Latest DVSA (Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency) statistics show that the average person had over forty hours of driving lessons and an extra sixteen hours of private practice before they passed their test.

4. Driving schools make you take more lessons than you really need.

This myth has come about because nobody wants to part with hard-earned money. Driving schools are paid by the lesson. People who are reluctant to pay for more lessons, believing that they can pass their test, start to suggest that the Driving School is trying to get more money out of them. Of course, this is very rarely true. Driving schools exist to help people pass their test and drive safely. In reality the main cause of people failing the driving test is that they have taken it before they are ready. Actually many people are putting pressure on their instructor to enter them for their test when more lessons would be beneficial, and they are just not ready for the test.

5. The Theory Test is just common sense.

This isn’t really true. Some answers in the multiple choice may involve a certain amount of common sense, or a good grounding of general knowledge (road signs for example), but many require some learning. For example it’s not really common sense that the minimum car tyre tread depth is 1.6mm!

To find out more about learning to drive in Glasgow contact TX Driver Training now on 0141 764 1213.

Why a good driving school will change your life

Learning to drive is often described as a “life skill” and it is certainly a set of skills that you will be able to use through the rest of your life, and which will change your life. Learning to drive allows you the freedom to travel wherever and whenever you like. You no longer have to wait in the rain with heavy bags of groceries for a bus that never turns up. You no longer have to rely on friends or family members for lifts, or to worry about how you’re going to get home. Even if you don’t intend to get a car of your own immediately, you can always hire a car for a short period if you are planning a journey. Being able to drive opens up job opportunities that either require a driving licence or become more accessible if you can drive yourself there.

What’s the difference between a good driving school and a bad one?

You may already have discovered that some driving schools aren’t as good as they should be. They may employ only trainee instructors so they can pay them less, yet still charge premium rates to the pupils. They may cut corners on car maintenance, or by getting pupils to act as taxi-drivers, starting the lesson by dropping off the previous pupil, and finishing by collecting the next pupil. These are not good driving schools. A driving school like this may end up costing you more because your driving lessons are not dedicated to teaching you to drive in the best possible way; while you are certainly practising driving while dropping off the previous pupil and driving towards the next pupil, you may not be driving optimal routes to allow you to develop important skills, to avoid congestion or to practice test routes. Worse, the other pupil in the car could be a distraction to you or the instructor.

A good driving school will be focused on you, the pupil. Every minute of every lesson will be tailored to ensure that you get the best possible tuition, and have the maximum high quality driving instruction. Your instructor will be experienced, or if you are happy to have a trainee driving instructor (with a pink triangle in the window instead of a green octagon) then they will charge you less for it. Your driver will be professional and punctual, turning up to your lessons ready to teach you.

A good driving school will help you to pass your test and to become a better driver. They will do it in a way that fits in with your life, making learning to drive as easy as possible for you. This means that where possible they will pick you up and drop you off at a location and time that suits you, and will be able to provide regular lessons with the same driving instructor. A good driving school takes your driving seriously, helping you not just to pass your test, but to become a safe and confident driver.

How do you find a good driving school?

The best way to find a good driving school is by personal recommendation. If somebody that you know has had a good experience and is happy to recommend their driving school, then the chances are they’re a good driving school. If you can’t go on recommendation, then read online reviews of the school, and ask lots of questions to ensure that you’re going to get the tuition you want.

Learning to drive really will change your life. Learn well with a good driving school and you’ll feel the benefit for the rest of your life. Learn badly, and it could be a disaster waiting to ruin your life, and potentially the lives of others.

Contact TX Driver Training on 0141 764 1213 to learn with one of the best driving schools in Glasgow.

The best ways to make use of an intensive driving course

Before you start your intensive driving course, take time to prepare. You’re going to be learning to drive in a very short space of time, so the more groundwork you do beforehand, the easier things are going to be, and the more you’ll get out of the course.

First, clear your diary for the duration of the course. You’re going to be driving for several hours each day, and for a new driver that’s can be very tiring. Don’t try to do anything else in the evenings, you’ll want to relax.

Second, spend as much time as possible before your course as an observant passenger. This might be by sitting at the front of the bus, or in the passenger seat of the car. Watch the road ahead. What’s happening? How soon does the driver slow down when they approach a roundabout or junction? What do they do as they pull out from the junction? Watch the driver’s eyes as they prepare to overtake – are they looking in their mirrors? Which ones? While closely watching your friend or parent driving might make them a little nervous, you’ll find that you can learn patterns of behaviour and road-craft that will help you when you are behind the wheel.

Third, read the Highway Code. This is the rulebook of the road and offers clear guidance on all aspects of driving. Choose a section to read each day, and read it several times. Ask somebody to test you on the content, and then revisit again several days later. The Highway Code is not just there to help with your Theory Test, the guidance in there will tell you what to do in most circumstances in everyday driving. Having a good knowledge of all the rules of the road will never be time wasted.

Choose your course and instructor carefully to ensure that you get on well together and that the course is suitable for you. Choosing a professional, enthusiastic and experienced instructor will give you the best chance of passing at the end of your course. Most driving schools will give you the opportunity to have an assessment lesson before you commit to an intensive course. This will help the instructor to assess whether an intensive course is suitable for you, and what your baseline standard of driving is like before the course, but it also helps you to decide whether this instructor will be right for you.

During your course:

Turn up on time, being late wastes precious time on a short course.

Listen carefully to everything that the instructor tells you. They are there to help you to learn to drive safely and to pass your test, so everything they tell you has a purpose.

Equally, make sure that you tell your instructor if there’s something that you don’t understand, something that you want more practice with or something you are nervous about. They can then tweak the course to ensure that you get the learning that you need.

Get lots of rest and drink plenty of water to help you to maintain concentration and get the most benefit from your course.

Enjoy it! Hopefully this will be the only intensive driving course you’ll need to take, so savour it. It won’t be long before you are the proud bearer of a Full Driving Licence, and allowed to drive solo.

Book a course

If you would like to book intensive driving lessons in Glasgow then phone 0141 764 1213 now.