![]() ![]() The driver’s viewpoint is typically higher, affording greater opportunity to spot potential hazards in the distance, though with increased blind spots in the immediate vicinity. But the view from an HGV, bus, or even a van, is very different to that of a car. Despite this, all drivers need to pass the DVSA test regardless of the vehicle they want to drive (bus, HGV, motorcycle, etc.). The traditional DVSA test, and the various apps that offer training, are primarily designed for car drivers. The hazard prediction test can therefore be used reliably to identify those drivers in a company who are more at risk of a collision, and the appropriate training can be provided in a proactive approach to driver safety. ![]() Known as the ‘Hazard Prediction test’, Esitu Solutions have published evidence to show that this test can identify risk in professional drivers, better than the traditional push-button hazard perception test ( Crundall & Kroll, 2018 Kroll et al., 2020). If the driver has read the road appropriately, they will be able to select the correct answer. The driver is then asked, ‘What happens next?”, followed by four on-screen options. Instead, each clip in the test just plays up until the point of a developing hazard, and then immediately disappears from the screen. Based on over a decade of research, Esitu Solutions has developed a test that gets rid of scoring windows and response times. Thankfully, there is a version of the hazard perception test that has been developed specifically for professional drivers. Surely hazard perception tests should also be able to identify those highly experienced drivers who have not fully developed their hazard awareness? The online forums for drivers are replete with tales of highly experienced drivers feeling cheated by the DVSA test because they pressed too early.ĭespite this, we know however that hazard perception training can improve the skills of even highly experienced drivers (e.g., Horswill et al., 2013), which suggests that some fleet drivers may not be as safe on the road as they think. Highly experienced drivers see earlier clues to upcoming hazards and may press the button before the scoring window opens (effectively scoring zero points). Scoring windows for the DVSA test are based on the expected responses from learner drivers, which are not necessarily appropriate for professional drivers. If a driver presses during this window, they score points, with earlier presses in the window scoring more points than later button presses. Each hazard clip has a scoring period (or ‘window’). Many current tests are not designed with professional drivers in mind. This is an understandable belief among professional drivers. We’ve broken down some of the most common misconceptions and facts below, so that you can make up your own mind. But if you are considering taking the plunge, how do you sort the facts from the fiction?ĭon’t worry – we’re here to help. You can find a range of views, for and against, spread across the web. As the use of hazard tests grows, so does ‘expert’ opinion on its utility. With online assessment and training for fleet drivers becoming more common, adding hazard perception to your fleet safety toolbox is easier than ever. Professional fleets are also starting to realise the benefits of hazard perception assessment. Following the UK’s pioneering lead, several countries across the world have implemented, or are in the process of implementing, some form of hazard perception test into their national driver licencing procedure. Hazard perception research has been around since the 1960s and it is now well established that performance on hazard perception tests is linked to driver collision risk. ![]()
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