Friday, 18 June 2010

Hazard Perception Test

The Driving Standards Agency's car driving test is conducted in 2 parts, theory and practical. The theory is split into questions and answers about road procedures, the law, traffic markings and signs etc and the hazard perception test.
The Q & A section is multiple choice with generally one correct answer to each question. This tests a new drivers knowledge about the subject and mostly can be learned from the Highway Code, other DSA publications, various commercial DVDs and web based resources. Encourage your friends and family to quiz your knowledge; both you and they may be surprised about each others competence.
The hazard perception test is often misunderstood, but put simply it tries to assess a new drivers ability to read the road, traffic and other road users intentions in a rapidly changing environment. A good driver will be planning ahead, observing and anticipating what other vehicles and pedestrians are doing, picking up on as many clues as possible to see a developing hazard as early as possible. So what is a developing hazard? Well let's start with a hazard! This can be as mundane as a parked car on the side of the road; this hazard develops if for instance another vehicle approaches and changes direction to overtake; it may further develop if the driver of the first car opens his door and the second vehicle has to swerve into the path of on coming traffic. So if you see a hazard, as simple as a junction or a zebra crossing; think "what could happen & how will it affect my intentions" as well as other users in the vicinity.

You need to pass both parts, but if you know your stuff it is not so hard. Time allowed for Q & A 57 minutes and you need to score at least 43 out of 50.

There are 14 video clips in the HPT and you need to score 44 out of 75. Check out this video that surprised me and hammers the perception point home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47LCLoidJh4

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