Hazard Perception and Defensive Driving
Hazard-perception items ask you to read a road scene as a bus driver, not a car driver. The bus is long, heavy, slow to stop, and has large blind areas.
Bus-specific hazards
- Stopping distance and air-brake lag: leave a larger gap than a car; air brakes respond after a short delay.
- 内輪差 (inner wheel difference): the rear wheels cut inside the front wheels in a turn. Do not swing wide into a cyclist’s path.
- オーバーハング (tail swing): the rear body sweeps outward when turning; check the rear before pulling away.
- Blind spots: mirrors do not cover everything; use direct looks and mirror scans before moving.
- Railway crossings: stop, open the window, listen, and confirm both directions before crossing.
Reading the scene
Use かもしれない運転: assume a child may run from between parked cars, a cyclist may pass on the left, or a passenger may step into the road. At bus stops, scan for passengers crossing in front, bicycles using the bus lane, and vehicles overtaking a stopped bus.
Worked example
A bus approaches a stop with a parked delivery van. A child is visible near the van’s front. The driver slows, covers the brake, and creates a lateral gap. Reasoning: the van blocks the child’s view of the bus and the driver’s view of the child; the safe response is speed reduction and a ready brake, not a horn alone.
Traps
- Trusting mirrors only and skipping a direct blind-spot check.
- Cutting the corner and ignoring 内輪差.
- Overtaking a stopped bus or cyclist without a clear lateral gap.
- Treating a green light or priority road as a guarantee.