Hazard Perception and Situational Awareness
Scan, don't stare
Good observation is a moving sweep, not a fixed stare. Look well ahead - around 12 seconds of travel - and use the mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds so you always know what is behind and beside you. Before braking, check the mirror; before changing lane, check mirror, signal, then blind spot. A green light, a clear lane or an empty pavement is never a guarantee.
Static and developing hazards
A static hazard is a parked car, a bend, a roadworks sign, a slippery patch. A developing hazard is one that is changing and may force you to act: a pedestrian stepping towards the kerb, a ball rolling into the road, a truck indicating late, brake lights rippling down a queue. The test rewards spotting the developing hazard early and responding smoothly, not reacting late and hard.
Conditions that raise risk
Sun glare at dawn and dusk, sandstorms, sudden rain, unlit roads at night, fatigue, roadworks and animals - including camels straying near highways - all reduce your margin. In these conditions, reduce speed, increase the gap and turn on the correct lights.
Traps
Common wrong answers include relying on the mirrors alone, watching only the vehicle directly ahead, braking before checking behind, or slowing to look at an incident on the opposite carriageway. Rubbernecking causes secondary collisions.
Rule of thumb: ask "what if?" at every hazard - what if that car pulls out, what if that pedestrian steps off, what if that light turns amber now? Worked example: approaching a row of parked cars on a narrow street, watch for feet under bumpers, brake lights and doors opening; slow before you see the hazard, not after.