Hazard Perception

The Hazard perception commentary drive

At CALM DRIVING we will get you to commentary drive on a specially selected lesson before your HAZARD PERCEPTION TEST. This will allow your instructor to check that you are picking up all your developing hazards listed below.

How to book See theory page

Don’t forget to order your CDROM from us to be able to practice the HAZARD PERCEPTION TEST or use some of the useful links on this site.

What is hazard perception?

The object of the hazard perception test is to spot developing hazards i.e. anything that moves like a pedestrian or a car door opening or a child running towards the road. Your computer screen acts as the windscreen on a car and you must click on the mouse every time you think you might be forced to change speed by a developing hazard.

Try the sample hazard perception test and have a go yourself!.

Each year 3600 people are killed on Britain’s roads. Improved hazard perception is a vital tool to reduce this number. Young drivers make up 7% of all licence holders yet they are involved in up to one in seven accidents involving injury. New drivers tend to take up to two seconds longer to spot a hazard compared to more experienced drivers.

The test is taken in front of a normal computer monitor with just a mouse to worry about. You will watch a series of video clips, each lasting about a minute long. You will be expected to spot developing hazards and click the mouse as soon as you see them. There are plenty of hazards in every clip although only one will develop into a serious or dangerous situation. The earlier you click the higher the score.

There will be 14 different moving scenes taken from a bank of 200 scenes.

Hazard Check List:

  • School crossings
  • Broken down vehicles
  • Vehicles with hazard lights on
  • Cyclists
  • Turning vehicles
  • Car doors opening
  • Traffic lights changing colour
  • Road works
  • Cars emerging incorrectly
  • Stray dogs
  • Crossings with pedestrians
  • Pedestrians running for bus
  • Woman with push chair looking to cross road
  • Blind man and dog by kerb
  • Bus pulling out