A developing hazard is either a situation that is very likely to become, could turn into, or is a hazard. The concept behind the Hazard Perception Test is to teach learner drivers to spot early warning signs before they turn into something more serious, so that they can react sooner or more appropriately and hence avoid accidents.
When such a hazard occurs, a driver needs to take action, for example: Slow down, change lane, etc.
As a simple example:
You are driving near a school where there is an ice cream van parked at the roadside. You should immediately assume that children will be around and that they are likely to step out from behind the van or run across the road to get to it. As you approach, you should therefore slow down to give yourself a better chance to stop in an emergency and be extra vigilant looking for signs of movement.
This test is being introduced because government statistics and research show that this kind of training can cut the number of accidents involving new drivers. Research shows that this training can increase a new driver’s awareness to that of a much more experienced driver. It has also been shown that the ability to perceive and react to hazards is a major factor in the avoidance of accidents.
General tips
Before a video clip starts …
When each clip cues up ready to play, you will have a maximum of 15 seconds before the clip starts automatically. Use this time you familiarise yourself with the surroundings of the scene. Think what the possible hazards could be in these surroundings (see the “things to look for” section for some ideas).
You can start the clip playing before the 15 seconds have run out by clicking on continue. You should only do this when you are calm and ready and have familiarised yourself with the scene. Nervously clicking multiple times could be wrongly detected as a cheating click pattern (see “cheating” below), so click with care and remain calm and attentive throughout the whole test.
During a video clip …
When you think you spot the hazard in a clip click once as soon as you spot it. A marker will appear at the bottom of the screen to indicate that the system accepted your click, and recorded it. This does not indicate that you have identified or failed to identify the hazard, just that you have clicked with the mouse.
At least one of the clips that you will be shown will contain more than one hazard. Be aware that not all of these are main hazards, but you will not have any way of knowing which have been judged major hazards and which are minor - so click to indicate that you have observed ANY hazard that appears in the clip.
If you have any doubt that you may have clicked too early in the development of a hazard, then click a second time to be sure. But avoid clicking lots of times in quick succession, and avoid clicking throughout the clip as the software may decide that you are cheating and give you a zero score for that question.
Cheating
Don’t try it - you will be caught!
The detection scheme in this software is reasonably strict and good at click pattern detection. The official version on the other hand uses a more complex detection scheme, so you are even more likely to be caught!
To avoid your clicks being considered “cheating” follow these guidelines:
1) Stay calm when clicking
2) In general, try to click as few times as possible
3) Don’t click in any form of a pattern
4) Avoid clicking except when you see a developing hazard
5) Do not double click
Things to look out for
Similarly to driving for real, you must take in the whole scene - this means scanning the whole video clip and directing your attention to the part of the screen most likely to present a hazard. If you fixate on the view directly ahead, then you will probably miss important details. Try to ANTICIPATE where a hazard might develop. If it looks as if it is developing, then click with you mouse to indicate that you have noticed it.
The following list is not intended to be exhaustive - but it links road scenarios to probable sources of hazard. To experienced drivers, it is all common sense - but for learners, it is worth reading and absorbing!
General
1) Road signs, they are often related to a hazard ahead
2) Pedestrians that could be a hazard, e.g. children
3) Cyclists & motorbikes - as other road users do not always see them
4) Cyclists: Particularly young cyclists, often have not had any road training and deserve your extra care and attention
5) Emergency vehicles
6) Poor visibility - especially bright winter sun, low in the sky
7) Poor road conditions - Rain, Fog, Ice, Snow
8) Blind bends
9) Lane changing - especially vehicles that are swerving to avoid hazards in their path.
Residential Streets
1) Cars pulling out
2) Children playing near the road
3) Pedestrians stepping out from in-between cars
4) Cars pulling out of side roads. Especially those with restricted views.
5) Pedestrians crossing roads without looking (and stepping out onto zebra/pelican crossings)
6) Cars stopping to park
7) Oncoming vehicles
8) Traffic restrictions
Motorways
1) Cars breaking down
2) Cars leaving the motorway
3) Cars changing lanes to overtake slower traffic
4) Cars joining the motorway
5) Emergency vehicles
6) Stationary traffic / road works
7) Traffic travelling much more quickly or much more slowly
Roads near schools
1) Children playing near the road (especially if they are kicking a football around)
2) Children crossing without looking.
3) Crossing patrols and other forms of crossing
4) Children cycling on the pavement.
5) Ice cream vans
Country roads
1) Single lane roads.
2) Farm traffic
3) Animals - especially horses & riders, cows, sheep etc…
4) Blind bends
5) Objects in the road - especially manure, mud, hay, water etc…
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