The development and validation of a hazard perception test for use in driver licensing

Drivers’ hazard perception is the ability to identify dangerous situations on the road ahead. We detail the development and validation of a new computer-based hazard perception test to be used for driver licensing purposes in Queensland, Australia. We proposed five principles of effective hazard perception test creation, which we used to guide development of the test. In Study 1, the video-based instructions for the test were found to be intelligible to non-native English-speakers with an effective English reading age of 10 years. In Study 2, experienced drivers were found to be faster at responding to hazards in the test than learner drivers (independent of simple reaction time or ability to use the response device), providing evidence for test validity. We found no evidence of gender, income, or educational differences in hazard perception scores. The results of both experiments confirm the efficacy of the five principles, and provide support for the validity of the QT-HPT and its suitability for use in the graduated driver licensing system.

► Developed hazard perception test for driver licensing in Queensland, Australia. ► Five proposed principles of hazard perception test creation guided development. ► Test instructions found to be appropriate for people with a poor level of English. ► Experienced drivers responded faster to test hazards than learner drivers. ► Results support test validity and demonstrate its suitability for driver licensing.