Hazard Prioritisation

Why Hazard Prioritisation Matters

Hazard prioritisation is the ability to decide which risks matter most, and in what order they should be dealt with. On the road, hazards rarely appear one at a time. More often, they develop together, competing for the rider’s attention.

Without prioritisation, a rider can become overloaded, reacting to the wrong hazard or trying to deal with everything at once. This often leads to rushed decisions, poor positioning and loss of scene control.

Advanced riding is not just about seeing hazards. It is about deciding which one needs your attention first. As the scenery changes, so do the prevailing hazards and your observation skills have to adapt to the changing environment.

This sits firmly within the Information phase of IPSGA, where the rider gathers information and begins to organise it into a clear and manageable plan.

Not All Hazards Are Equal

One of the most important principles to understand is that not all hazards carry the same level of risk.

Some hazards are immediate and require action now. Others are developing and need to be monitored. Some may not require any action at all, but still need to be kept in awareness.

The rider’s task is to assess:

Which hazard presents the greatest risk?
Which hazard requires action first?
Which hazards can be managed later?

This allows the rider to remain calm and structured, rather than reacting to everything at once or becoming overwhelmed with information.

Time, Distance and Risk

Hazard prioritisation is closely linked to time and distance. A hazard that is close and developing quickly will usually take priority over one that is further away or less immediate. For example, a vehicle pulling out from a side road ahead may require more immediate attention than a pedestrian standing on the pavement further down the road.

However, this is not always straightforward. A distant hazard may become more important if it has the potential to develop rapidly or restrict future options. This is where forward thinking becomes important.

The rider must constantly balance what is happening now with what may happen next. This is where scanning and eye movement becomes a juggling process, every movement must be observed and analysed prior to dealing with it.

Avoiding Tunnel Vision

A common problem when dealing with multiple hazards is tunnel vision. This occurs when a rider focuses too heavily on one hazard and loses awareness of others. While it is important to prioritise, it is equally important not to ignore the wider picture.

Hazard prioritisation is not about choosing one hazard and forgetting the rest. It is about managing several hazards at once, while giving the most attention to the one that matters most.

Good riders maintain a broad awareness, even when dealing with a specific problem. This can be done by looking at the whole picture and realising what to deal with first, peripheral vision helps locate movement as the situation around you changes.

Using Position and Speed to Manage Priority

Once a hazard has been prioritised, you must use position and speed to manage it effectively. Reducing speed can create time to think and allow more space to deal with the hazard.

Adjusting position can improve visibility or increase separation from risk. The larger the vehicle the more risk it presents, but don’t avoid a lesser danger to put yourself in a greater one.

These adjustments should be made early and smoothly, rather than as late reactions. By doing this, you begin to control the situation rather than being controlled by it. This is a learned skill and comes with knowledge, education and time developing the right skills.

Linking Hazards Together

Hazards should not be treated in isolation. Often, one hazard will influence another. For example, slowing for a vehicle turning ahead may affect following traffic behind. A change in position to avoid one hazard may expose you to another.

Hazard prioritisation requires you to think in sequences, linking hazards together and understanding how one decision affects the next. You should try to deal with the process by flowing through and coming to a stop if necessary.

This is where advanced riding becomes fluid. You are not simply reacting, but constantly planning ahead.

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Common Faults Riders Make

There are several common faults that reduce the effectiveness of hazard prioritisation. Practice makes progress and allows the rider to develop these skills over time.

Trying to Deal with Everything at Once

Some riders attempt to react to multiple hazards simultaneously, leading to confusion and poor control. Being immersed in difficult situations for prolonged periods of time can be a cognitive overload.

Focusing on the Wrong Hazard

Prioritising a less important hazard can leave a more significant risk unmanaged. Often riders see a hazard and deal with it, but are a=caught out by the hidden dangers. A good example is an ice cream van, the rider focuses on the vehicle but not the children en-route to it.

Losing Awareness of Secondary Hazards

Focusing too heavily on one hazard can result in missing others that are developing. An example is filtering in heavy traffic and not seeing the gap from ahead as a road user beckons another driver out of a side road.

Each of these faults reduces the rider’s ability to stay organised and in control. Speed often plays a part in being overwhelmed, a slower speed gives you more time.