Hazard Perception and Emergency Handling
Hazard perception items describe a developing scene and ask for the first correct action. Emergency handling items ask what to do once it has already gone wrong. Both reward the rider who separates braking from steering.
Scanning and planning
- Look far ahead, roughly twelve seconds of travel, then work back to the near field.
- Mirror checks every five to eight seconds, and a shoulder check before every lane change.
- At junctions, identify an escape route rather than only spotting the hazard.
When it goes wrong
- Emergency stop: straighten the bike, apply both brakes, squeeze the front progressively, keep your eyes up and pull the clutch as you stop.
- Front wheel lock: release the lever smoothly and keep the bars straight; grip returns and you can reapply.
- Rear wheel lock: keep the bars straight and ease off the pedal.
- Swerve: brake first, then release and swerve. Braking and swerving together spends the grip you need for both.
- Wet roads or gravel: reduce lean, avoid painted lines and manhole covers, use more rear brake.
Cornering
Slow in, look through the bend to the exit, and roll the throttle on gently once the road opens. Braking mid-corner stands the bike up and runs you wide.
Worked example
You enter a wet bend too fast. Correct sequence: ease off the throttle smoothly, hold a constant lean, look at the exit, and let engine braking slow you. Grabbing the front brake would tuck the front wheel and lowside the machine.
Traps that cost marks
- Target fixation: staring at the pothole almost guarantees you hit it. Look at the gap instead.
- Believing a skid means "brake harder".
- Passing a stationary queue at speed when a pedestrian may step out between vehicles.