ABSTRACT
It is now 50 years since the publication of the first known study involving a hazard perception test for drivers (Spicer, 1964), and hazard perception tests are being increasingly used as part of driver licensing procedures around the world. They typically involve drivers watching images of traffic situations and indicating their awareness of potentially dangerous events, on the assumption that a greater awareness of such events has implications for an individual’s crash liability while driving. Consistent with this assumption, test scores have been found to be associated with crash risk, on-road driver ratings, and key factors linked with crash risk (such as distraction, fatigue, alcohol, and speed choice), as well as differentiating between high-and low-risk driver groups. This chapter will discuss our current understanding of hazard perception tests, including their validity, issues surrounding test content, alternative test implementations, and what high scorers might be doing that low scorers are not.
