How to Identify Hazards

The second part of the UK Driving Licence Test is the Hazard Perception Test. This test is basically designed to assess the awareness of the candidate with respect to the hazards which can occur on a day-to-day basis on the roads.  The candidate is shown several videos from which they should identify potential hazards in the fastest possible time. The candidate must get at least forty-four out of seventy-five points as correct in order to pass the test.

Details of the Hazards

In order to identify hazards, it is necessary to have some idea of the hazards that are most likely to be presented. Here are some of the most common ones:

Situations which are likely to be a hazard

A bus waiting at a school crossing

Heavy vehicles parked amid other vehicles

A car taking a U-turn on the top of a hill

Vans parked with the doors open

People riding bicycles on country roads

Traffic lights changing against oncoming traffic

Potential obstructions in the path of the car

A dog about to cross the road

Children playing by the roadside

Another car suddenly appears from the left

Pedestrians at a zebra crossing

A dog leading a blind man at a kerb

A bus pulling into the traffic

Potential hazards from opposite traffic

A car moving towards a parked car

A car stops on the road to pick up a passenger

A car suddenly swerves right, against the traffic flow

These are a few of the likely scenarios which can come in the hazard perception test. There is a lot of material available online. It would be a good idea to browse through it. This will give you a fair idea of how to identify hazards using the guidance of the above points.