Driving Theory and Hazard Perception Test Guide

To sit a driving theory test you will need a valid provisional driving licence.

You can book your driving theory and hazard perception tests online.

If you have any problems booking your driving theory test online or if you would like to discuss anything such as reading difficulties, a disability or health condition before attending Leeds driving theory test centre, call the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) on 0300 200 11 22

Avoid extra costs when you book your driving theory test by using the official driving theory test booking service at https://www.gov.uk/book-theory-test

By using this official booking service on GOV.UK, you will only pay for the cost of the driving theory test itself, whereas other websites might charge extra fees.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) recommend that all candidates study the Highway Code, Know Your Traffic Signs and Driving The Essential Skills.

Regardless of your driving experience, you should make full use of the available study material to prepare for the multiple choice and hazard perception elements of the driving theory test.

Immediately after your driving theory test, you must:

• identify 15 developing hazards, each worth a score of up to 5 points
• watch 14 one-minute video clips, each containing at least 1 developing hazard, but one of the clips will feature 2 ‘developing hazards’ (a situation that develops from a relatively unremarkable beginning, to a serious event seconds later, that would require you as a driver having to take action, such as changing speed or direction.)
• score 44 out of 75 to pass.

More people fail the hazard perception part than the multiple choice theory element.

Even experienced drivers struggle with the hazard perception test, so you will need to make sure you’re fully prepared for it.

You will need to train thoroughly and be prepared to maintain a high level of concentration for the duration of this twenty minute test.

You will be expected to spot the early warning signs of the hazard before it develops and to respond by clicking with the left or right mouse button.  You will need to click again as soon as the hazard begins to develop.

You are not expected to click on the hazard, just to press the button when you recognise that something is about to happen, that would need a response from you as a driver.

This has little to do with reaction time and with the right training you should be able to recognise that a hazard is developing, well in advance of it being necessary to brake or change direction.

When applied on the open road, this skill will help to reduce the number of occasions that you end up doing an emergency stop or swerving to avoid a collision, because you will have already slowed down or changed your road position to effectively neutralise the hazard before it happens.  Experienced drivers do this all of the time, without even realising they are, whereas inexperienced and newly qualified drivers tend not to have this skill and as a result are involved in far more avoidable collisions.

In terms of the practicalities of the test, when you click on the video, you will see a flag appear at the bottom of the screen to acknowledge the click.

You can and should click every time you see something that makes you think a hazard is developing.  This means that you might click quite a few times in one clip and so long as you click only when you see a potential developing hazard you are very unlikely to be considered as cheating.

However, if you click in a patterned, rapid or regular way, the software will give you a score of zero for that clip and display a warning message.  In reality unless you are really cheating, you are unlikely to see that response.  On the other hand if you are genuinely trying to cheat the system, you will see that message frequently and certainly fail the test.

For each developing hazard there are five points available.  The five points correspond to five equal length intervals of time, starting at the point where the developing hazard, in the view of the DVSA hazard perception experts is first visible and ending where the experts think the last possible moment for avoiding or reacting to the hazard is.

If you click in the first fifth of that band, then you will get 5 points and if you click in the last you will get 1 point. Obviously, if you click before the window of opportunity opens or after it closes, you will score zero points.

Remember, at least one of the clips contains 2 scoring hazards, so you must continue to watch every single clip all the way to the end, even if you’re confident that you’ve already seen and responded to a developing hazard.

By the day of your driving theory test, it’s important that you are fully prepared.

You must have all of your documentation including:

• appointment letter
• provisional driving licence

It’s also important that you know exactly where the driving theory test centre is located and that you arrive in plenty of time. If you arrive late, the driving theory test centre may cancel your driving theory test and you may forfeit your booking fee as a result.

Most importantly, it’s critical that you are fully prepared for the driving theory test and well practiced in hazard perception, so that you arrive 100% confident, that you will be leaving with a pass certificate.  The driving theory test is expensive, so you owe it to yourself to make sure that you’re fully prepared before you walk through the test centre doors.

When you enter the test centre, a receptionist will check your details and you will be asked to empty your pockets of any mobile phones, mp3 players, notes, books etc.  These can be stored in a locker until you complete the test.

Gallery House (1st Floor)

The Headrow

Leeds

LS1 5RD