Hazard awareness, vulnerable road users and emergency handling
What the exam tests
Hazard awareness questions test scanning, anticipation and space management, especially around vulnerable road users. Emergency handling questions ask what to do in the first seconds after a blowout, brake failure, fire or collision.
Observation and space
Look well ahead and use mirrors frequently. Keep a following gap of at least two seconds in good conditions; double it in rain and increase it further in ice or fog. A laden bus needs longer to stop. Check blind spots before moving off, changing lanes, turning or opening doors. At bus stops, watch for passengers crossing in front and cyclists passing on the inside.
Vulnerable road users
Give cyclists and motorcyclists room when overtaking; do not squeeze past. Expect children near schools to act unpredictably. Give older pedestrians time. For horse riders, slow down, leave space and avoid revving. At junctions, check for pedestrians and cyclists before turning, especially when turning left across a cycle lane.
Emergency handling
Tyre blowout: hold the wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator, keep straight and avoid hard braking. Brake failure: stay calm, try the brakes, shift to a lower gear for engine braking, apply the handbrake progressively and look for a safe escape. Fire: stop, switch off, evacuate away from traffic and call 112 or 999. Collision: secure the scene, protect casualties, call the emergency services and exchange details.
Worked example
A bus is pulling away from a stop when a cyclist comes up on the inside. The correct action is to pause, check the mirror and blind spot, and let the cyclist clear before moving out. Accelerating to “get ahead” is wrong because the cyclist is in a blind area and has right of way in the lane.
Traps
Using mirrors only and forgetting the blind spot; opening doors without checking; braking hard after a blowout; treating hazard lights as a parking permit.