Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #560 in Software
• Brand: Focus Multimedia Ltd
• Released on: 2003-05-23
• Platforms: Windows NT, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows XP, Windows 95

Amazon.co.uk Review
Now that the Hazard Perception test is part of the driving theory test, learners should seriously consider the Driving Test Success Hazard Perception CD-ROM. You get over 100 video clips shot from the driver's viewpoint on two CDs depicting a wide range of potential hazards in all sorts of different driving conditions. The discs cover pedestrian, town, city, motorway, main road and rural hazards, so a clip might find you "driving" at night on a wet motorway, or negotiating a narrow street with badly parked cars or an unloading lorry, driving through fog, or negotiating roadworks, busy motorways and quiet country lanes. As each clip is played you have to watch the action carefully, clicking the left mouse button as soon as you see a developing hazard. You can click the mouse more than once (indeed, on some clips there's more than one hazard) but the software's clever enough to "watch" what you're doing, so that if you just click constantly in the hope of accidentally highlighting the hazard, it'll tell you you're cheating and give you no marks.

From the main menu you can practice on a video clip--these are chosen randomly--or take a mock-up of the test itself. There's a selection of tips and tricks to help you understand what a developing hazard is and how you should react to it and the program also helps you start to associate specific kinds of hazards with particular settings (for example, you're unlikely to find a parked ice-cream van on a motorway and thus, won't have to worry about children running out in front of it).

One important point to consider. The authors have confirmed that their video tests are functionally different to those you'll get in the actual exam room. For example, the DSA positions its camera on top of the car rather than inside--in addition, the invisible markers which dictate at what moment you should click to recognise an oncoming hazard and score high marks are slightly different. That aside, the program offers well-presented practice for learner drivers that will stand them in good stead when it's time to take the test. --Rob Beattie

Manufacturer's Description
Improve your Hazard Perception Skills Learner drivers are now required to pass the hazard perception test, which forms part of the driving theory test. In the hazard perception test learner drivers will be shown a series of video clips of real road scenes featuring potential hazards. Candidates will be tested on how soon they spot the dangers.

Hazards can be anything and can appear anywhere on our roads. The more practice you gain in recognising potential hazards, the better prepared you will be for both the test and real life. Use this unique collection of over 100 video clips covering a whole variety of different road situations to improve your hazard perception skills and become a safer driver.

Disc 1: Main Road, Motorway and Rural Hazards Disc 2: Pedestrian, Town and City Hazards

Customer Reviews

Don't Panic
I bought this software to prepare for my motorbike test. I've been driving for 17 years but I had no idea what to expect from the hazard perception test (imagine how embarassing failure would be!). It doesn't help that researching the test on the internet can turn up some horror stories such as people failing because they identified hazards too early or clicking on the screen too often. While the developers readily admit that their software isn't exactly the same as the real test, I can tell you that it is close enough. If anything I found it harder to pass the mock tests in this software than the actual test. The best thing about this software is that it takes away any fears you may have concerning the test, and it also gives you an idea of what hazards are likely to come up in various situations. Oh, and I passed my theory test first time with a higher score than I had ever achieved using the software.

dirt cheap, and helps you pass
I like this - before buying this from amazon I had taken two theory tests, failing both times on the hazard perception element.

The hazard perception element of the test is a total crock - I cannot believe such a shoddy effort ever made it to be a part of the driving test. Don't be fooled that driving or road experience will get you through this section of the test - they won't, because in my opinion the test itself is a shoddy piece of low grade tat, and I've yet to find anyone who has taken it that disagrees with me.

After failing twice, I decided that the best approach would be the pragmatic one - if the DSA wants me to jump through hoops before they will give me a liscense, then I had better learn to jump through hoops, so given the cost of this it looked a better bet than buying the official one - I really didn't want to give the DSA any more of my money if I could help it. After buying it I used it to practise test technique, as a result of which I passed the test this morning, which for the amount this product costs is a good deal in my book - what more do you want for the money?

Driving Theory
This 2 cd pack is great value. The clips that they show are actual films, which are simialr to the type shown in the actual driving test. The program is split into practise tests and actual tests. The practise tests consist of 3 video clips, and you have to identify the hazard(s) in the clips. At the end of each clip you get yur score and a chance to review the clip and see where the hazards actually were. At the end of the 3 clips you get to see your score for that section, and therefore see your progress throughout the program.
A good program, definitely recommended to help you pass your hazard percepion test and give you an idea of what you are in for in the real exam