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Video Driving Simulators
Hazard perception testing has been part of the licensing process and an important element of the official driving test in the United Kingdom and Australia for over a decade, but hasn't been introduced to the U.S. public yet. The Hazard Perception Test measures a person's ability to observe the whole road scene, recognize potentially dangerous situations ("developing hazards") on the road, and respond safely and appropriately. Video sources courtesy J Utah and our videographer team.
What is a developing hazard
A developing hazard is something that may result in you, the driver, having to take some action, like changing speed or direction. For the purposes of this test, we consider the following items "hazards":
Traffic Signs
Stop signs
Yield signs: If you encounter a yield sign, you must yield to approaching vehicles. Also, if it’s the vehicles on the cross or merging road that encounter the yield sign, you must watch for vehicles that ignore the yield sign and fail to yield to you.
Stop (or Yield) to Pedestrians: You must do so.
Crosswalks: You must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
Pedestrians in the street: Watch for pedestrians (or animals) that may suddenly dart out into your path.
Work zone signs, Detour signs, Flagger signs, and work zones: Watch for workers, sudden changes of direction, merging lanes, etc.
Do Not Enter, Wrong Way, and One-Way signs: Don’t ignore them and end up traveling in the wrong direction.
Keep Right/Keep Left/Divided Highway Begins signs: Avoid the obstacle.
Railroad crossing signs/signals: Don’t cross tracks if a train is approaching.
Lane Ends sign: Prepare to merge into another lane or allow drivers from the ending lane to merge into your lane.
Slippery When Wet sign: Obvious on a wet day.
Bump/Dip signs: Obvious.
Animal (Deer, Moose, etc.) Crossing signs
Traffic Signals
Green traffic light: Must still yield to oncoming vehicles if you’re turning left.
Steady yellow traffic light: Stop if you can safely do so.
Steady yellow arrow: If you want to turn in that direction, stop if you can safely do so.
Traffic lights inoperative (out of order): Treat as all-way stop and use extreme caution.
Authorized Vehicles
Emergency vehicle approaching from either direction: You must get clear of any intersection and pull over.
Stopped emergency vehicle or stopped roadway maintenance vehicle: Slow down and/or move over at least one lane
School bus stopped with flashing red lights: Stop unless it’s on the opposite side of a divided highway.
Other Types of Vehicles
Bicycles maneuvering to avoid a hazard
Motorcycles maneuvering to avoid a hazard
Large bus or truck behind you (needs huge stopping distance)
Large truck alongside you or in front of you (watch for its No-Zones)
Miscellaneous
Object in roadway: Any collision, even with a small object, is dangerous.
Pavement markings
The three parts of hazard perception
Good hazard perception skills mean being able to identify and respond to potential road hazards in the safest way possible. According to the Department of Transport of Australia, the three parts of hazard perception are: see, think, do. As a driver, these should be used together to develop better hazard perception skills.
See: using your eyes to scan the road ahead and spot any hazards
Think: thinking about what you need to do ahead of time to respond safely
Do: acting in response to the hazard you see for example, slowing down or creating more space.