Safe Driving Behaviour and Hazard Perception
Safe driving behaviour and hazard perception test whether you can read the road before a hazard becomes an emergency. Egypt's mix of dense traffic, pedestrians, motorcycles, informal minibuses, animals, heat, dust and sudden rain makes observation, space and speed control the core skills.
Observation and space
- Use the mirror-signal-manoeuvre routine and scan 12-15 seconds ahead, not just the car in front.
- Check blind spots before changing lanes; mirrors do not cover them.
- Maintain a two-second gap, extended to three or four in rain, dust, night or when following a large vehicle.
- Cover the brake when a hazard is developing, and have an escape route in mind.
Distraction, fatigue and impairment
- Handheld phone use, texting, eating and arguing all remove attention from the road.
- Fatigue causes late braking and micro-sleeps; stop for rest at least every two hours on long trips.
- Alcohol and drugs impair judgement and reaction; driving under their influence is illegal.
- Emotions such as anger or road rage narrow attention; calm down before continuing.
Conditions
- At night, dip headlights for oncoming traffic and do not stare at bright lights.
- In rain, slow down, avoid cruise control, and ease off the accelerator if aquaplaning; do not brake hard.
- In fog or a sandstorm, use low beams or fog lights, never high beams, increase the gap and pull off safely if visibility is too poor.
- In heat, watch for tyre failure, engine overheating and drowsiness.
Hazard perception
Scan, identify, predict, decide, act. A hazard is not only what is visible but what is likely: a ball, a stopped bus, a parked car with a door opening, a motorcycle filtering.
Worked example
A ball rolls into the road ahead. You do not simply steer around it. A child may follow. You reduce speed, cover the brake, check the mirror and prepare to stop, leaving room to the side. The reasoning is prediction: the ball is a clue to an unseen pedestrian.
Traps
Using high beams in fog; tailgating to stop others merging; assuming an indicator means the driver will turn; swerving instead of braking; and driving with hazard lights on in moving fog, which hides your indicators.