Hazard perception and hazard recognition
This domain tests how early and accurately you identify hazards before they become emergencies: reading traffic, pedestrians, road geometry, and passenger activity together.
Scanning and clues
Look 12 to 15 seconds ahead and keep the eyes moving. Scan intersections, parked cars, bus stops, school zones, construction, and driveway openings. Read clues: brake lights, turn signals, head swivels, a ball rolling into the street, or a cyclist drifting left. Check mirrors often, but do not stare at them. Identify an escape route before you need it.
Predicting and acting
Ask what the hazard can do next, then adjust speed or position early. Cover the brake near a crowded curb; create a buffer from parked cars; do not assume a pedestrian sees the bus. Passenger movement, questions, and stop requests are also hazards because they divide attention.
Worked example
A child stands between parked cars with a ball at the curb. The correct response is to slow, cover the brake, increase lateral space if possible, and prepare to stop. Waiting to see the child step out removes reaction time.
Traps
Fixating on the vehicle directly ahead, assuming a waved-through pedestrian is safe, and looking only at the road while missing mirror threats are common errors. Hazard recognition is a continuous scan, not a single check.