Hazard Perception and Safe Driving Behavior
What this domain tests
Hazard Perception and Safe Driving Behavior tests whether you notice developing risks early and choose a safe response. The exam rewards scanning and anticipation, not reactive braking.
Scanning and space
Look far ahead and keep your eyes moving. Check mirrors every few seconds and check blind spots before manoeuvres. Maintain a space cushion around the vehicle. Watch for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, children, school zones, parked cars, animals, sand or gravel on the road, and wet patches.
Defensive driving
Drive at a speed that lets you stop within the distance you can see to be clear. Avoid distractions and fatigue. Do not assume another driver has seen you. When a hazard appears, slow early and prepare to stop rather than swerving into another lane.
Worked example
A ball rolls into the road from between parked cars. Reasoning: a child may follow. Slow immediately, cover the brake, check the mirror before any lane change, and be ready to stop. Do not simply sound the horn and continue at the same speed.
Traps that cost marks
Fixating on the vehicle directly ahead, tailgating, and looking only at the road centre are common errors. Candidates also miss hazards hidden by parked vehicles or assume a green light means the junction is safe. Late braking instead of early slowing shows poor hazard perception.