Safe Driving Principles and Hazard Perception
What the exam tests
This domain tests whether you scan ahead, predict hazards and leave enough space and time for a heavy vehicle to stop. Expect questions on following distance, blind spots, vulnerable road users, night driving and dust or rain.
Core rules
- Look 12 to 15 seconds ahead and keep the whole road picture, not just the vehicle in front.
- Use at least a four-second following gap in good conditions; increase it in rain, dust, darkness or when loaded.
- Check mirrors and blind spots before every lane change; heavy vehicles have large blind areas close to the cab and alongside the trailer.
- Give cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians room; they are hard to see and vulnerable in a collision.
- Reduce speed before entering a hazard, not while inside it.
Worked example
A truck travels at 80 km/h. That is about 22.2 metres per second. A four-second gap is about 89 metres. In dust, the driver doubles the gap to eight seconds, about 178 metres. The reasoning: stopping distance rises with speed and low grip, and a loaded truck needs more distance than a car. The gap is measured from the moment the vehicle ahead passes a fixed point to the moment your front reaches it.
Traps
Do not treat right-of-way as safety: the other driver may not see you. Do not tailgate to prevent cars cutting in; it removes your escape space. Do not rely on mirrors alone before changing lanes.