Developing Hazards

A developing hazard is one that is starting to move into your path. It often begins as a static hazard: the parked matatu's indicator comes on; the pedestrian standing at the kerb turns towards the road; the bodaboda that was waiting at the side road starts to roll forward.

The diagram shows one street three seconds apart. At first there are three things worth noticing and none of them is doing anything. Three seconds later, two of them have changed. That change is the moment to act. The earlier you notice it, the gentler your response can be: easing off rather than braking, a small change of position rather than a swerve.

The NTSA theory paper asks this directly, usually as "What is the developing hazard in this situation?", and the practical test checks it on the road. The two need the same skill: among everything you can see, find the one that is starting to move towards your path.

What you do about it follows a simple order:

1. Ease off the accelerator. It costs nothing and it buys time.
2. Cover the brake, with your foot resting over the pedal, so the reaction time is already spent if you need it.
3. Make room if you can do so safely: a little more distance, a little more space to the side.
4. Be ready to stop. The handbook's instruction is to be prepared to alter your speed or course even at the very last moment, because cyclists, pedestrians and other vehicles can be unpredictable.

A developing hazard that turns out to be nothing has cost you a second of lifting off the accelerator. One that you missed can cost everything.