Hazard Perception Test The Facts
The hazard perception (or awareness) test consists of 14 video clips, each about a minute long. Each clip shows driving situations involving other road users and is shot from a car driver's point of view. As each clip plays a hazard - something that will cause the driver to change speed, direction or stop will develop. In 13 of the clips you will have one hazard to identify, in the other, two. You will not be told which hazard perception test clip is the two hazard clip.
You identify the correct hazard or hazards by clicking on either the left or right mouse button. The earlier you identify the correct hazard or hazards the more you score. The scoring goes from five to zero points.
Don't think you can continuously and frantically smoother the screen with clicks as the hazard perception clip plays. If you do you will score zero. However, you will not lose points for clicking on other potential hazards that may also be seen.
So, you watch a clip and in that clip you will see several potential hazards unfolding. Most will stay exactly that, potential hazards but one (or two) will become an actual hazard and cause the vehicle (the camera shot, the driver's point of view) to change speed, direction or stop. This is the hazard you must click on in order to score points. Clicking on the potential hazards will neither score you points nor lose you points.
Watch the Official DSA Hazard Perception Introduction Video
To pass the hazard perception test you must score at least 44 points out of a possible 75.
The hazard perception test is the second part of the driving theory test. After you finish the multiple-choice section (the actual theory test) you will be permitted a break of up to 3 minutes. A short tutorial video on the hazard perception test will then play, once finished the hazard perception test will begin.
Definition of A Hazard
A hazard can be anything that causes a driver to change the speed, direction or stop the vehicle they are driving. Although in real life a hazard may be static such as a set of traffic lights, a junction or a bend, these are not the sorts of hazards that you will need to identify during the hazard perception test. During the hazard perception test you will need to identify hazards that develop and thus have motion such as a bus pulling away from a bus stop or a lollypop lady stepping into the road.
Potential Hazards - What To Look Out For
Road signs, they often relate to a hazard ahead.
Pedestrians - walkers, children playing, people with walking sticks.
Cyclists and motorbikes - especially young cyclists.
Poor visibility - especially bright sun low in sky, dusk, rain and spray.
Poor road conditions - rain, fog, ice and snow.
Lane changing - especially vehicles swerving to avoid hazards.
Brake lights on vehicles.
Indicator lights flashing.
Cars pulling out.
Children playing near the road.
Pedestrians stepping out from behind cars.
Vehicles pulling out of side roads. Especially those vehicles with restricted views.
Pedestrians crossing roads.
Cars stopping to park.
Being forced out to the middle of the road by parking cars.
Roads Near Schools
Children playing near the road, especially ball games.
Children crossing without looking.
Crossing patrols and other forms of crossings.
Children cycling on pavements.
Ice cream vans.
Single lane roads.
Farm traffic and field gateways.
Animals, especially horses and riders, cows and sheep.
Objects in the road especially manure, mud, hay and water.
People walking against the flow of traffic.
Cars breaking down.
Cars leaving the motorway.
Cars changing lanes to overtake slower moving traffic.
Cars joining the motorway.
Traffic traveling much more quickly or much more slowly than your vehicle.
Preparing For The Hazard Perception Test
To prepare for the hazard perception test try testing yourself. Take a journey by car and watch the road ahead. Numerous hazards will emerge. Some will develop others won't. Can you tell which? Although the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) doesn't release the actual hazard perception test clips there are books and multi-media that have example hazard perception test clips etc.
Mock Hazard Perception Tests - Below are links to six online hazard perception tests. The video clips are taken from the official DSA practice bank so they give a good idea of what you will need to do when taking the actual hazard peception test.