Hazard Perception

Posted on August 28th, 2008 by admin, under Driving Test, Driving Tips.

Hazard Perception is the drivers ability to recognise a situation on the road which is either dangerous, or has the potential to develop into a dangerous situation in which some driver action will be required. Good hazard perception requires good visual scanning and anticipation, and a good understanding of how driving situations can develop.

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Hazard Perception Test Video

Why the need for Hazard Perception

• Over confidence
  Young drivers rate their own performance as above average. They are more likely to equate “good” driving with the ability to master the controls of the car at higher speeds. However, vehicle control is only part of being a good, safe driver.
• Under-estimation of risk
  Young drivers take longer to develop the risk assessment skills required to safely interact with other road users. They detect and assess hazards more slowly, and they also under-estimate the risk of a hazard resulting in a crash and over-estimate their ability to deal with hazards.
• Age
  Young and novice drivers have a higher crash rate because they are inexperienced, their cognitive and perceptual skills are not fully developed and they take more risks. They also pick up bad habits quickly.
• Lack of driving experience
  Teenage drivers have less training and experience, which leads to more traffic violations.
• Poor attitudes
  The fact that violations, rather than errors or lapses, are associated with crashes suggests that they are caused by a poor attitude to road safety, rather than a lack of skill on the part of the drivers. While it is necessary to train drivers to a basic level skill, it is also necessary to persuade or constrain drivers not to violate. Therefore road safety efforts should be focussed on attitude change as well as initial skill training.

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Make sure your Driving Instructor is legal!

Posted on June 25th, 2008 by admin, under Driving Instructor, Driving Test, Driving Tips.

When choosing a UK Driving Instructor you should make sure they are registered with the Driving Standards Agency.

Many people think being a Driving Instructor is an easy job, all they do is sit in the car giving directions all day. Teaching somebody to pass the driving test takes a great deal of patience and a lot of awareness. When you have finished for the day – you are not physically tired, but mentally tired.

It is illegal to take money from pupils for the giving of driving instruction unless the driving instructor is registered with the DSA.

To become registered your driving instructor must first have passed a police check. They have then to pass a Theory and Hazard Perception Test followed by an Advanced Driving Test.

Once they have passed the Advanced driving test they can choose to take 40 hours training and go on to a Trainee Licence. This allows them to gain experience for the Final Exam.

Your driving instructor must display his license to instruct in the window of the driving school vehicle. If the license is green – then the driving instructor is fully qualified. If the license is pink - then the instructor is a Trainee. You should check the license in the window, make sure it has not expired and the photograph matches that of your driving instructor.

If you pay somebody to teach you to drive that is not a registered driving instructor - you are not insured to drive the vehicle. It is only registered driving instructors that can get insurance to teach people to drive.

Don’t worry if your driving instructor is on a trainee licence – they will have undergone a lot of training to get the licence and as a result they will be more up to date than perhaps an instructor that has been teaching for 20 years.

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