Seeing Hazards
Seeing Hazards tests observation and hazard perception: finding problems early enough to act. The exam rewards scanning far ahead, checking mirrors, and identifying escape routes.
Scan systematically
Look 12 to 15 seconds ahead-about a quarter mile at highway speed. Scan the road, shoulders, intersections, parked vehicles, pedestrians, and work zones. Check mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds and before lane changes or braking. Look for clues: brake lights, turn signals, swerving, headlights flashed, or a driver's head turning. At intersections, watch for vehicles that may run the light.
Plan an escape route
For each hazard, ask where you would go if it moves into your path. Keep space to the front, sides, and rear. Do not fixate on one object; keep your eyes moving.
Worked example
A traffic light ahead has been green for a long time. Reasoning: a stale green may change before you arrive, and the cross traffic may anticipate its change. Cover the brake, check mirrors, and identify a clear stopping point or escape lane.
Traps
Watching only the vehicle directly ahead, staring at a hazard, and assuming other drivers see you are common errors. A hazard you see late is a hazard you cannot manage.