Hazard perception is the ability to spot developing situations early enough to act before they become emergencies. It is the skill that separates safe experienced drivers from novices — and it is tested in the Swedish theory exam.
Scanning Technique
Safe drivers constantly move their eyes: check mirrors every 5–8 seconds, scan the full width of the road ahead, look into junctions and side roads before reaching them, and look beyond the vehicle ahead for brake lights or hazards further up the queue.
What to Watch For
Children near the kerb (may run out), cyclists drifting towards the road edge, vehicles with indicators that suggest a door opening or pulling out, pedestrians at crossings before they have committed to stepping out, changing road surfaces (ice patches, gravel), animals near the road, and vehicles reversing from driveways.
Anticipation vs Reaction
Reaction is what you do after a hazard appears. Anticipation is reading the road to predict hazards before they appear. An anticipating driver slows before a blind junction; a reacting driver brakes when the car suddenly appears. Anticipation gives you more time and space — both save lives.
Exam tip: When a question describes a road scene, identify every potential hazard mentioned — parked cars, pedestrians, junctions, weather. The correct action is always to reduce speed and increase awareness at the earliest opportunity.