Hazard Perception Test Guide
How Should You Approach the Hazard Perception Test?
The Hazard Perception Test has been around since 2002 and is always taken at the same time as the Theory Test. There’s 15 minutes to sit this part of the test and you must identify at least 15 hazards as quickly as you can from around 14 video clips. You can’t go on to your practical test until you’ve passed this part, so you’ll find it’s quite important to get it right.
Here at Compass Pro Drive we’ve managed to get many drivers through their test and we will help you through this too. We can give you advice and guidance on how to pass this part of your test and help you to be as prepared as you can be. We are the premier driving instructors in Edinburgh so you’re in safe hands.
What Can You Expect From the Hazard Perception Test?
Once you sit down you’ll have a short video which will tell how the test works and what you will need to do to pass. You can play the video again before starting the test, it’s entirely up to you.
You’ll see a freeze frame at the beginning of the video and then there’ll be a countdown from 10. At the end of this, the video will start and you’ll have to click, with your mouse button, every time you see a potential hazard about to occur.
Red Flags
A red flag will appear once you’ve clicked, and this will be the same for your all your hazard clicks, you’ll always get a red flag for each one. At the end of this particular video clip all the red flags will go.
Spot the Hazard Before it Materialises
You will only score if you manage to spot a hazard before it materialises, when it does materialise, the driver will have to then take action such as slow down, or swerve. The point is to spot it before it happens.
Your ability to recognise the hazard quickly before it develops into something more serious will determine your score.
The hazard perception test is about testing your ability to recognise a potential hazard before it happens and this is essential once you become a fully-fledged driver.
Time Segments – The Quicker You Recognise a Developing Hazard, The Better
You will have 5 segments of time. If you click quickly before the developing hazard gets any worse you will score the highest of 5 points. The second time segment warrants 4 and so on. The slower you are at spotting a developing hazard, the lower your score. If you don’t click at all, you score nothing.
You can click quite a few times within a particular timeframe, but the computer will take the highest score and record that for the clip you’ve been watching.
Don’t Cheat!
Whatever you do, don’t click over and over again in the hope of just getting it about right, the computer will be able to sense this. It will only be the first click anyhow.
You are only allowed so many clicks per clip, and if it senses that you are doing more clicks than average in an attempt to cheat, you’ll get a message saying just that. This will result in no score for that particular clip.
The screen will turn black between each clip, so you’ll recognise when you’re going from one hazard clip to another completely different one. You’ll get a count down until the next one starts and this will be the pattern, until all 14 of the video clips have been played.
After you’ve completed the test, you’ll leave the room and then collect the score for both parts including your theory. To pass your theory test you must pass both parts of the test. If you fail either, the theory or the hazard perception, then you’ll need to take the test again, both parts.
Edinburgh Driving Lessons With Compass Pro Drive
If you have any questions about the hazard perception test, or you’re worried about it at all, then speak to us here at Compass Pro Drive. We are professional, qualified driving instructors in Edinburgh.
Our Edinburgh driving school is one of the best in the city and we pride ourselves on getting all our students through their test. Come and talk to us here in Edinburgh and we’ll do all we can to reassure you and talk you through each test and each lesson until you’ve passed. That’s what we’re here for.