Hazard perception, risk situations and defensive driving
Scanning
Look far ahead, use mirrors often, and keep your eyes moving. In Iceland hazards arrive from unusual directions: sheep on the road, birds, and cars pulling out of gravel tracks.
Typical hazards
- Blind crests and bends: keep right, reduce speed, expect oncoming traffic.
- Single-lane bridges: check the sign and yield as indicated.
- Gravel roads: loose surface, dust, and sudden loss of grip.
- Ice and snow: black ice in shaded spots and on bridges.
- Sandstorms in the south: pull over, close windows, and wait.
- Animals: sheep graze near roads in summer; slow down, do not swerve violently.
Defensive driving
Assume others will make mistakes. Leave an escape route, avoid sudden inputs on loose surfaces, and brake in a straight line before a bend.
Worked example
You crest a rise and see sheep on the road 40 m ahead. Braking hard on gravel risks a skid; you reduce speed early, keep the wheel straight, and steer gently around the animals only if there is room. The exam rewards early observation and smooth control, not a dramatic swerve.
Traps
Overdriving visibility at night or in fog; swerving for animals into oncoming traffic; assuming a 4x4 stops faster on ice; ignoring dust from an oncoming vehicle.