Why Studying For The Hazard Perception Test Is Important

It is an often neglected aspect of the driving theory test, however, it is as important as any other test that you will take when learning how to drive. We are, of course, talking about the hazard perception test.

Many people who are taking driving lessons are under the mistaken belief that the hazard perception test is a simple part of the examination that contrasts the more difficult test of your theoretical knowledge. Moreover, many think that they become completely adept at spotting hazards during the course of their driving lessons.

While spotting hazards is certainly something that a good driving instructor will ensure that you become proficient at, the hazard perception test is an entirely different matter, as it is not conducted under live circumstances. As such, you need to be as alert as possible to spot every single hazard on each scenario to get the marks you need to pass your theory test.

So why is studying for your hazard perception test so important? Here are just a couple of reasons.

Muscle Memory

We mentioned learning about spotting hazards as part of driving lessons earlier on and this ties into the muscle memory you exhibit when reacting to said hazards. When driving a vehicle, it is primarily your legs and feet that complete any actions involved when you have spotted a hazard. Braking, for example, is entirely done through the use of the clutch and brake pedals.

Conversely, when studying for the hazard perception test you will find that your reactions may be slightly dulled by the fact that you are using a mouse button to demonstrate you have spotted the hazard. While a simple click of a button seems simpler at first, the fact that you have trained yourself to react in a physical manner when a road hazard presents itself could lead to delays that cost you valuable marks.

New Scenarios

No matter how in-depth your driving lessons are, there is always the possibility that you won’t have come across a particular hazard during the course of your own driving. While your instructor will do everything they can to alert you to potential hazards, even if they don’t end up presenting themselves, without encountering them you can’t always be sure how soon you must react.

With the hazard perception test you may be presented with a scenario that you have yet to come across. As such, you need to ensure that your timing is absolutely perfect to get the most amount of marks, in addition to knowing what you need to look out for so that you can react accordingly. The only way that you will be able to do this is to practice, so make sure you put the required time in before taking the test.

Despite being a fairly new aspect of the overall driving test, the hazard perception test is still crucially important. Whatever you do, don’t go into the test without having prepared properly beforehand. It is a risk that isn’t worth taking, especially when there are so many materials available to help you.