Safe driving and hazard perception
What this domain tests
The exam tests whether you spot hazards early and adjust speed, space and attention before a situation becomes an emergency. D1 buses add passenger movement, stop routines, school children and heavy-vehicle blind spots.
Core rules
- Scan far ahead and near: mirrors every few seconds, instrument panel, road surface and roadside activity.
- Keep at least a three-second gap in good conditions; double it in rain and increase further on ice, snow or gravel. A loaded bus needs more braking distance.
- Adapt speed to visibility, surface, load and passengers. You must be able to stop within the clear distance ahead.
- Check mirrors and blind spots before pulling out from a stop, changing lane or turning. Use the mirrors systematically, not only when manoeuvring.
- Watch for vulnerable road users near stops: children, cyclists, pedestrians and people hurrying for the bus.
- Manage fatigue: take breaks before concentration drops, and do not rely on coffee or fresh air as a substitute for rest.
Worked example
You approach a bus stop where children are standing close to the kerb and a cyclist is overtaking on your left. You reduce speed, cover the brake and check the left mirror before indicating out. Reason: the children may step out, and the cyclist may be in your blind spot. Pulling out first would remove your escape space and could trap the cyclist.
Traps that cost marks
Trusting mirrors alone without a shoulder check; opening the door into a cyclist; assuming a stopped bus will stay stopped; and treating a green light or priority sign as permission to drive at the limit regardless of a developing queue.