NEW computer-generated imagery (CGI) will replace old filmed clips in the hazard perception part of the theory test from early 2015.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) say that current clips are still relevant but the image quality isn’t as clear or defined as modern technology allows.
The way that the test works will remain the same, meaning candidates will have to click the screen when they see a hazard develop in front of them. The faster they acknowledge the hazard and click the screen, the more points they will be rewarded with.
New clips will show the same situations as the previous clips but will look clearer on the screen and include updated vehicles, roads and surroundings so they look modern.
A release from the DVSA said: ‘Using CGI will also allow DVSA to develop new clips in the future that include a wider range of hazards, for example including situations with vulnerable road users like children or cyclists that would previously have been difficult to film. The CGI clips could also include a range of driving conditions, such as night time driving or bad weather.’
DVSA chief executive Alastair Peoples said: ‘The theory test plays an essential role in making sure that new drivers know the Highway Code and the rules of the road. Research has shown how effective the hazard perception test is in reducing the number of crashes involving newly qualified drivers.’
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