Hazard Perception

Core principle: children are exempt from the normal "principle of trust" — always expect rash, ill-considered behaviour from them, not correct road conduct. Near children, be ready to brake heavily and immediately if one runs into the road.

At traffic lights, expect children to start running as soon as the light for their direction turns green — sometimes even before. On a cycle path that ends, expect children to move onto the roadway without paying attention, or too far onto it.

Elderly people with walking aids: expect them to stop mid-road, turn back, or cross slowly — higher duty of care applies.

Wheelchair users on the road where a pavement exists: follow behind until you can overtake, leaving plenty of room (the wheelchair may swing out). If one can't get up a kerb after crossing, stop, switch on hazard lights, and go help.

Visually impaired pedestrians: identifiable by a yellow armband with three black dots, and/or a white cane held diagonally. You cannot make eye contact to negotiate right of way with them — you are obliged to stop and let them cross.

Never overtake a bus or tram that is still moving and displaying hazard lights near a stop. Once it's stationary with hazards on, you may pass at walking speed, only if you're sure no boarding/alighting passenger is endangered.

At traffic islands built for boarding, expect pedestrians to assume they have right of way over vehicles even when they technically don't — treat the area with extra caution.

You must also give way to a regular or school bus that's signaling to pull away from a marked stop — not just avoid overtaking a stationary one.

Where skidding risk is highest: near construction sites and at junctions with farm/dirt tracks (mud dragged onto the road), on bridges, and on forest-lined stretches of road (shaded, damp, windy — prone to black ice).

Wet roads: keep a much larger safety distance — tyre grip deteriorates, wheel-spray impairs visibility, and braking distance increases, all at once.

Oil on the road: avoid heavy braking and abrupt steering; notify the appropriate authority.

Testing if a road is icy while driving: brake carefully at very low speed to check — never test by jerking the wheel or accelerating hard. On confirmed ice, avoid all three: heavy accelerating, heavy braking, and sharp steering inputs.

Turning from a brightly lit road into an unlit one: your eyes adapt to darkness slowly — obstructions become harder to spot right after the transition, not immediately clear.

Dazzled by oncoming headlights: look toward the right-hand edge of the road (not at the light), and reduce speed if necessary. Never accelerate to escape the glare faster.

Driving into an unlit underground car park: your eyes need time to adjust, and pedestrians frequently walk in the vehicle lanes there — both apply at once.

Overtaking is strictly banned immediately before and on a zebra crossing — so you always have a clear view of it and anyone about to step out. Stopping/parking is also banned in the same zone (matches the 5 m rule from the numbers topic).

If a pedestrian wants to cross, you must get ready to stop and refrain from overtaking any vehicle already waiting there.

Approach with particular care whenever: pedestrians clearly want to cross, your view of the crossing is restricted, or another vehicle is already waiting at it.

Turning into a side street while pedestrians are crossing it (even on a green light for you) — you must let them finish crossing before you turn.