Lots of practice clips to test yourself, clear and easy to understand .
Disadvantages:
No booklet, try to sell you other products in the Introduction .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
I am currently learning to drive (as many people on Ciao will already know!) and will be taking my theory test next week. One of the things I bought to help me with my theory test was the Focus Driving Test Success:Hazard Perception dvd. Apologies I've you've read my other review on a Hazard Perception dvd - they are different.
*What Is Hazard Perception?*
In 1996 the Theory Test was brought in as part of passing your driving test, to ensure new drivers knew the Highway Code. Each Learner is given a series of 35 multiple choice questions, out of which they must get 30 correct. In 2001, concerned by the amount of accidents occuring with new drivers, the Hazard Peception test was introduced. The aim was to make new drivers more aware of the hazards around them when driving. During the test there are 14 video clips shown of road scenes, out of which the learner must pick out 15 hazards (one clip has two hazards) by clicking on a mouse when they occur. There is a maximum of 5 points for each clip, and you must score at least 44 to pass this part of the test. If either the multiple choice or the hazard perception part of the test is failed, both parts must be taken again.
*How do I use the Focus Driving Test Success Hazard Perception DVD?*
This dvd can be played on a dvd player, or on your computer (if you have a dvd drive), on the PS2 and on the Xbox (if you have a dvd movie playback controller). Upon playing the dvd you are given a menu:
Introduction
Help/How to use
Training
Practice
Exam
Other Products
I have to say I didn't find the introduction very helpful - it just tries to sell you the multiple choice Theory Test dvd. Therefore, I'd advise people not to watch it, and skip straight to the help section.
The help/how to use section explains how to use the dvd and is split into parts, explaining each item on the main menu. It also explains more about your theory test, how to book it and what to do on the day of your test.
*Training Section*
The training section of the dvd explains what hazard perception is and why it has been introduced. It also gives you more details about actually taking the test and what you should do on the day. The 'best practice' part of the training section contains many video clips shot with a Police Officer (who is an advanced driver), with a running commentary about the hazards encountered. This is designed to show a learner what they should aim to acheive.
*Practice Section*
The practice section is spilt into fourteen sessions. Each session holds a short introduction, and then you are shown three interactive video clips - similar to those shown when you take the hazard perception test for real. You are able to watch each video clip and press the ok/enter button when you see hazards occuring. After each clip you will be given a score out of five. The clip will then be repeated with a commentary explaining where the hazards were. The aim of the practice sessions are to allow you to test what you have learned without having to go through a long series of clips. This way you get quick feedback on how you are doing, and what you got wrong (or right!). It is suggested that you complete all of the Practice sessions before moving on to the Exam section.
*Exam Section.*
This part of the dvd is made to mirror the real Hazard perception test as closely as possible. You are shown 14 clips containing 15 hazards, and aren't able to see your score until you have completed all the clips. There are a few differences between this and the real test, due to the limitations of dvd. For example, in the real test a flag will show at the bottom of the screen every time you click. This dvd will only show one flag no matter how many times you click. Also, there will be a short delay on the dvd between you clicking and your response registering on-screen. The length of this pause varies with each dvd player.
*How much does it cost, and where can I buy it?*
I bought this dvd from Halfords for £12.99. You can also buy them on the Focus website for £9.99 (plus free postage to the UK). Go to: http://www.focusmm.co.uk/shop/Driving-Test-c-107.html. It is also available on CD ROM at Amazon UK for £8.99 new, or £4.00 from Amazon Marketplace (postage not included), or you can get the box set which includes CD/DVD for both parts of the theory test for around £25.99 (with free postage on Amazon)
*Tech. Details* Length - approx. 3.7 hours Subtitles - N/A Picture format - PAL 4:3 Disc Format - DVD-9 Region code - 2
*My Opinion*
Other than the blatant attempt at selling other products in the Introduction of this dvd, I can't praise it highly enough. In comparison to another hazard perception dvd I bought, this one has five times more clips, is three times longer and was also £3 cheaper. What appealed to me most about this dvd was the amount of clips you are shown - 140 in total. The 58 interactive clips for you to test yourself are a huge bonus, and because there are so many it has allowed me to practice for my test well in advance - but I've also been able to save half of them to practice with nearer to the day of my test.
I found it a shame that they used the introduction to try and sell you more of their products, especially since there's already an 'other products' section for anyone who does want to see what else they sell. It might well put some people off using it if they watch the introduction first (as most people would do). Having said that, the other hazard perception dvd I watched also tried to sell you more products. Another improvement would be to include a booklet with the dvd, preferably one with a scorecard in so you can keep track of your scores on the tests. Even with these two faults, I can honestly say this dvd helped me, and the practice tests were invaluable. The problem with the hazard perception theory test is that you aren't able to practice for it unless you do buy one of the dvds or cd roms available - so in that way it seems like the DSA introduced it to make more money. It hasn't been running long enough yet to see if it has made an impact on the high accident rates of new drivers. Having said that, I watched my first hazard perception dvd before I started driving lessons, and I can honestly say that it made me more aware of hazards around me when I did start driving.
I won't know if all this practice has really paid off until I sit my theory test, but I feel much better prepared for the test and more confident after using this dvd. There are sites that give you so many days access to practice tests for a fee, such as http://www.theory-test.co.uk/asp/, but I think this dvd is better (and you get more clips) so I would advise anyone taking their theory test to get one.
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