The hazard perception test was introduced to test a driver's alertness, his road sense and his evasive skills when faced with a dangerous situation while driving. The Hazard perception test is the second part of your driving theory test and it has to be passed at the same time as the multiple choice section.

You will be shown 15 hazard perception test video clips and you can score a maximum of 5 marks for each clip.

Hazard perception test introduction

Hazard perception test is the second part of the theory test and must be passed simultaneously with the multiple choice test.

This part of the theory test requires you to view 14 hazard video clips of approximately one minute each on your computer screen. You are required to watch these clips as if you were the driver. There will be 15 hazard to find - at least one on each clip. However, one clip will have 2 hazards. The hazard perception test clips will not contain any sound.

The clips feature various types of hazard, such as vehicles, pedestrians and road conditions. You should respond by pressing a mouse button as soon as you see a hazard developing that may result in the driver having to take some action, such as changing speed or direction. The earlier the developing hazard is spotted, and a response made, the higher the score.

Candidates can score up to five marks on each hazard and the test contains 15 score able hazards.

You click either the left or right mouse button whenever you think you can see a hazard developing. The speed at which you click the mouse button as a hazard develops will determine your score for that particular hazard perception clips. You can score between 0 and 5 on each hazard.

The pass mark for this part of the test is 44 out of 75 (i.e. 15 hazard x 5) for car drivers and motorcycle riders.

Those taking LGV or PCV (lorry or bus) tests must score at least 50 out of 75.

Candidates are given their results when they have finished both parts of the test and have returned to the waiting room.

Hazard perception test examination process

Each hazard perception test video clip will start with a freeze frame and a count down from 10 will commence. At the end of the count down the clip will start to play and you will be required to click the mouse button each time you see a developing hazard.

To let you know that the program has registered your click, a red flag will appear on the grey band across the bottom of the screen - one flag for each click in a particular clip. At the end of the clip all the flags will be removed before you start the next clip.

Some useful Hazard perception tips to identify the Score able Hazard

As an example, of how to identify and respond to a developing hazard, consider a parked vehicle on the side of the road. When you first see it, it is not doing anything; it is just a parked vehicle. If you were to respond to the vehicle at this point, you would not score any marks, but you would not lose any marks.

However, when you get closer to the vehicle, you notice that the car's right hand indicator starts to flash. The indicator would lead you to believe that the driver of the vehicle has an intention of moving away, therefore the hazard is now developing and a response at this point would score marks. The indicator coming on is a sign that the parked vehicle has changed its status from a potential hazard into a developing hazard.

When you get closer to the vehicle, you will probably see the vehicle start to move away from the side of the road; another response should be made at this point. Different clips in the test will have various signs to indicate that the hazard is changing its status and is now starting to develop.

The above Hazard perception tips will help you identify the hazard early and get a higher score. For more details on the hazards to look out for, click on the following http://www.theory-test.co.uk/asp/hazard_perception_info.asp

Prepare for your Hazard perception online

You can prepare for your hazard perception online at http://www.theory-test.co.uk/asp/. There are 70+ hazard perception test video clips based on the actual DSA clips where you can practice innumerable hazard perception mock test. These mock test are similar to the actual DSA hazard perception test and cover all the possible hazards you might face on the road.