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Washington driving lesson · Managing Risk

Risk awareness and hazard management

A 3-minute lesson from the Washington course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Managing Risk
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
154, 155, 156

Risk never goes away when you drive: you'll make mistakes and so will others. What you can control is how early you notice trouble and how calmly you respond. That's what risk awareness, hazard perception, and a reliable hazard routine are for.

Know the rule

Navigating risk means being aware, predictable, smooth, and proficient, with safe driving habits as your default style.

Handbook p. 154 ↗

Common factors in fatal crashes:

  • Speed
  • Impairment
  • Distractions
  • Unrestrained occupants
  • Inexperience
Handbook p. 154 ↗

Know the rule

In Washington, vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for people ages 16 to 25. This age group is more susceptible to fatal and serious injury crashes.

Handbook p. 154 ↗

Risk awareness

Your ability to identify present and potential hazards, including other road users, weather, and distractions, so you can change your behavior to avoid a crash.

Handbook p. 154 ↗

To stay aware of risk:

  • Keep your head scanning: front, sides, and behind, using peripheral vision and mirrors
  • Leave enough space ahead to see what's happening on the road
  • Check behind you after spotting a hazard that requires a change
Handbook p. 155 ↗

Hazard

Anything that requires you to make a change in speed or direction. It can be stationary or moving, urgent (a child running out) or minor (a trash can in the road).

Handbook p. 155 ↗

Know the rule

Hazard perception is scanning for risks and identifying them before they become a problem. It requires attentiveness, quick decision-making, and the ability to react to changing situations.

Handbook p. 155 ↗

Know the rule

When there's more than one hazard at once, you must decide which needs the most urgent response. Drive slower when approaching hazards to give yourself time.

Handbook p. 155 ↗

Know the rule

Situational awareness means constantly observing what's happening around you and predicting what's next. The drivers behind you could be the most affected by your decisions.

Handbook p. 156 ↗

Hazard management routine

Hazard management routine
StepWhat you do
PlanScan, including behind you; decide if the change is safe
CommunicateSignal so everyone knows your intentions
CheckSet position and speed so medium braking or less will do
ExecuteMake the change smoothly; be ready to change the plan
EvaluateThink about how it went and adjust next time
Handbook p. 156 ↗

Know the rule

During the Check step, recheck your mirrors, look over your shoulder for pedestrians and bicyclists, and make sure no other driver is moving into the same space.

Handbook p. 156 ↗

Put it into practice

A delivery truck is double-parked ahead on your street. Plan: check your mirror and the lane beside you. Communicate: signal left. Check: slow so light braking is enough, and look over your shoulder. Execute: ease around it. Evaluate: was anyone surprised?

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

Which of these is listed as a common factor in fatal crashes in Washington?
  1. Road construction
  2. Speed
  3. Older vehicles
  4. Unfamiliar routes

Answer: Speed

Speed is listed among the common fatal-crash factors, along with impairment, distraction, and unrestrained occupants.

Handbook p. 154 ↗
Which age group is described as more susceptible to fatal and serious injury crashes in Washington?
  1. 16 to 25
  2. 26 to 35
  3. 36 to 45
  4. 56 to 65

Answer: 16 to 25

In Washington, vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for people ages 16 to 25.

Handbook p. 154 ↗
What are the five steps of the hazard management routine, in order?
  1. Plan, communicate, check, execute, evaluate
  2. Look, listen, signal, brake, go
  3. Observe, orient, decide, act, repeat
  4. Scan, signal, slow, stop, proceed

Answer: Plan, communicate, check, execute, evaluate

The hazard management routine is plan, communicate, check, execute, and evaluate.

Handbook p. 156 ↗
The hazard management routine's 'communicate' step means using your signals so others know your intentions.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Communicate means letting others know what you plan to do using signals.

Handbook p. 156 ↗
What is the 'check' step of the hazard management routine mainly about?
  1. Evaluating how the maneuver went afterward
  2. Signaling your intentions to others
  3. Preparing your vehicle position and speed with room to change safely
  4. Deciding whether to make the change at all

Answer: Preparing your vehicle position and speed with room to change safely

Check means preparing vehicle position and speed for adequate space, then rechecking mirrors and blind zones.

Handbook p. 156 ↗
Which of these is listed as a factor commonly involved in fatal crashes?
  1. Unrestrained occupants
  2. Heavy traffic congestion
  3. Mechanical failure
  4. Poorly marked roads

Answer: Unrestrained occupants

Unrestrained occupants is listed among the common fatal crash factors, alongside speed, impairment, and distraction.

Handbook p. 154 ↗
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