Topic
Hazard awareness
Last updated
Hazard awareness covers anticipation — reading the road before something becomes urgent. It links directly to the hazard perception test: the same skill of spotting a developing situation early is what scores points there and keeps you safe on the road.
What’s tested
- The difference between static, potential and developing hazards
- Effects of alcohol, recreational drugs and some prescription medicines
- Planning rest stops on long journeys (every two hours, minimum 15 min)
- Approaching crossings, junctions and traffic lights with care
- Reading clues from other road users — brake lights, gaze, indicators
Key Highway Code rules
Try a real DVSA question
Practice question
From the DVSA question bank
You're approaching a crossroads. What should you do if the traffic lights have failed?
Show explanation
The correct answer is D.
When approaching a junction where the traffic lights have failed, you should proceed with caution. Treat the situation as an unmarked junction and be prepared to stop.
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Common mistakes
- Driving the morning after a heavy night and assuming you are sober
- Treating failed traffic lights as one-way priority instead of unmarked junction
- Underestimating very young or very old pedestrians
- Filtering past a queue when you cannot see the head of the queue
Keep going
All 14 topics
- Alertness Staying focused: mirrors, observation, scanning the road, avoiding fatigue and distraction.
- Attitude Considerate driving: patience, following distance, behaviour at crossings and roundabouts.
- Safety and your vehicle Roadworthiness: brakes, tyres, lights, fluids, warning lights and securing the car.
- Safety margins Stopping distances, weather, road surface, and the space you need to react safely.
- Vulnerable road users Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, horse riders, children, older and disabled people.
- Other types of vehicle Sharing the road with lorries, buses, motorcycles, trams and emergency vehicles.
- Vehicle handling Driving in rain, fog, snow, dark and strong wind — how conditions change the car.
- Motorway rules Joining, lane discipline, speed, breakdowns and smart-motorway running lanes.
- Rules of the road Speed limits, junctions, roundabouts, parking, level crossings and one-way streets.
- Road and traffic signs The visual language of UK roads — shape, colour and meaning of every sign and signal.
- Documents Licence, insurance, MOT, V5C log book and SORN — the paperwork to be legally on the road.
- Incidents, accidents and emergencies First aid, CPR, AED, RTC procedure, breakdowns and tunnel safety.
- Vehicle loading Carrying passengers, luggage, roof loads and towing — and how each changes the car.