Safe Driving Behaviour and Hazard Perception
Scanning and space
Safe driving is mostly about seeing hazards early and keeping room to respond. Use a scanning cycle: look far ahead, check mirrors, check instruments, then repeat. Maintain a following gap of at least three seconds in good conditions and more in rain, at night, or when following a heavy vehicle that blocks your view. In Tasmania, wet roads, wildlife and unsealed surfaces are common hazards, so increase your gap and reduce speed accordingly.
Hazard perception in questions
A hazard is anything that may force you to change speed or direction. Questions often show a developing situation and ask what you should do first. The safest answer is usually the earliest, least aggressive action: ease off the accelerator, cover the brake, increase your gap, and prepare to stop. Avoid answers that involve swerving, sounding the horn aggressively, or accelerating out of trouble.
Fatigue and distraction
Fatigue impairs judgement like alcohol. Signs include yawning, drifting, heavy eyes and poor concentration. The only effective remedy is to stop and rest; fresh air and loud music do not work. Mobile phone use, including texting and holding a phone, is illegal while driving. Even hands-free calls distract, so keep them short.
Common traps
- Choosing 'sound your horn' when 'slow down and prepare to stop' is available.
- Thinking a two-second gap is adequate in the rain.
- Believing coffee or music cures fatigue.
Worked example
You are following a truck on a wet rural road and cannot see ahead. The best response is to drop back to at least four seconds and reduce speed, not to overtake blindly.
Rule of thumb
See it early, create space, and make the smallest change that keeps you safe.