Hazard perception and defensive driving
Hazard perception questions ask what you should see, predict and do before a hazard becomes an emergency. The exam rewards scanning, space and anticipation, not reactions that start too late.
Scanning and mirrors
Look far ahead and use the near view for immediate threats. Check mirrors regularly and before braking or changing direction. Before a lane change, check the mirror, signal, and look over your shoulder into the blind spot. At junctions, look left-right-left and check for cyclists and mopeds filtering past queuing traffic. Do not fixate on one hazard; keep scanning for the second one.
Vulnerable road users
Children, pedestrians, cyclists, mopeds, motorcyclists and older people are the most likely to be hidden or to behave unpredictably. Expect a child near a parked car to run out; expect a cyclist to swerve around a drain; expect a motorcyclist to be hidden in a blind spot. Slow down near schools, playgrounds, bus stops and parked cars. Give cyclists and mopeds enough lateral space when overtaking.
Conditions and space
Rain, fog, snow, ice and darkness reduce both visibility and grip. Use dipped headlights in rain and fog, slow down, and increase the gap. In fog, do not use high beam; it reflects back. At night, avoid staring at oncoming headlights; look towards the left edge of your lane. Keep a space cushion so you have an escape route.
Worked example
You see a ball roll from between parked cars on a residential street. The correct response is not to swerve around it but to reduce speed immediately, cover the brake and expect a child to follow. You should be able to stop within the visible clear distance. If a child appears, stop and wait; the child may run back.
Traps
Watching only the car in front; trusting an indicator as proof a driver will turn; overtaking when visibility is poor; and leaving no escape route in traffic.