In urban driving, you should scan ahead for hazards for at least how many seconds?

• A. 8 seconds
• B. 12 seconds
• C. 15 seconds
• D. 5 seconds

Answer: (B)

The main idea is to constantly look far enough ahead to spot potential hazards before you reach them. In urban driving, that means scanning at least twelve seconds ahead.

Why twelve seconds works well for cities: at typical city speeds, you’ll encounter pedestrians, cyclists, parked vehicles opening doors, and intersections where traffic patterns can change suddenly. Looking twelve seconds ahead gives you time to notice these risks, assess how they might unfold, and react — whether that means slowing smoothly, stopping, or changing lanes to create space. It also accommodates your own reaction time and braking distance, so you aren’t rushed into abrupt or last‑minute moves.

Eight seconds or five seconds would leave you less time to react to unpredictable urban hazards, while fifteen seconds is more than necessary for most city driving and can be overly broad for quick adjustments.