Onscreen hazard testing for NI learner drivers

Learner drivers in Northern Ireland will soon be experiencing onscreen testing of their reactions to real hazards as part of revisions to the driving test.

From January, candidates taking the 35-question driving theory test will also have to complete a separate hazard perception test.

Stanley Duncan, Acting Chief Executive of the DOE Driver & Vehicle Testing Agency, said: "Too many young drivers are killed or injured in road accidents. It is important that they are able to recognise developing hazards on the roads and know how to respond to them. Bringing hazard perception into the theory test should encourage learner drivers to spend time acquiring and developing the skills they need at an early stage in their driving careers."

The hazard perception part of the test will use video clips of real road scenes. Candidates will be tested on 14 film clips chosen at random from a series of 200, each containing one or more developing hazards. From 6 January 2003, people sitting the test will be assessed on how soon they identify and respond to these hazards.

Research has shown that new drivers take up to two seconds longer to recognise potentially dangerous situations than more experienced drivers. However, after three hours of focused training, new drivers can on average achieve similar scores to those of experienced drivers in hazard perception tests.

Driving techniques such as anticipation and scanning the road ahead can help learner drivers improve their awareness of dangers when driving.

The new hazard perception test will form part of the current screen based theory test. Failure to pass either the existing multiple-choice section or the hazard perception test will result in failure of the whole test.

Price for the new test will go up from £18.00 to £20.50 as from 6 January 2003.

Leaflets explaining more about the new test, which started in England, Scotland and Wales on 14 November 2002. will be available from practical test centres and theory test centres.

(SP)