Research-led tractor hazard perception assessment and training
Assess and develop tractor drivers’ hazard perception skills using realistic agricultural driving scenarios filmed from the driver’s perspective. Available as a standalone hazard perception assessment and supported by an evidence-based classroom training programme that continues to evolve through ongoing evaluation.
Standalone assessment • Two-hour classroom course • Online and VR options
For colleges, employers and training providers
A complete tractor hazard perception solution
- Standalone hazard perception assessment using real tractor cab footage
- Two-hour classroom training course designed to develop hazard awareness and anticipation
- Online and immersive virtual reality delivery options
- Tractor-specific hazards including gateways, overtaking traffic, junctions and narrow rural roads
Driving a tractor on public roads requires a different set of skills
Tractor drivers must manage large, slow-moving vehicles on narrow rural roads while interacting with faster-moving traffic, vulnerable road users and changing road conditions. This creates hazards that are not always covered by conventional driver training.
A unique road environment
Agricultural vehicles often operate on narrow roads with limited visibility, concealed entrances, uneven verges and restricted space. Drivers must safely manage the size and speed of the vehicle while remaining aware of other road users.
Hazards develop differently
Overtaking vehicles, approaching junctions, gateways, bends and vulnerable road users can create rapidly developing risks. Drivers need to recognise the early warning signs and anticipate what may happen next.
Conventional training has limitations
Practical tractor training commonly focuses on vehicle control, manoeuvring and safe operation. These skills are essential, but they do not directly assess how effectively a driver notices and anticipates hazards on the road.
Early anticipation matters
Identifying a potential hazard before it becomes critical gives the driver more time to reduce speed, adjust their road position and make a safer decision.
Agricultural vehicles remain a serious road safety concern
Tractor drivers face risks both within agricultural environments and when travelling on public roads. The consequences of a collision can be particularly severe due to the size, weight and operating characteristics of agricultural vehicles.
Collisions involving agricultural vehicles
Reported on public roads during 2024.
Serious collisions
Of those reported incidents, 150 were classified as serious collisions.
Lives lost
Collisions involving agricultural vehicles resulted in 18 deaths during the same year.
Vehicle control is only part of safe tractor driving. Drivers also need the ability to recognise how hazards are developing, anticipate the actions of other road users and respond before a situation becomes critical.
This work forms part of an ongoing tractor hazard perception research programme led by Nottingham Trent University and funded by the Road Safety Trust. The statistics shown are based on 2024 UK road collision data reported within the project.
Assess how drivers recognise developing hazards
The Tractor Hazard Perception Assessment presents realistic driving scenarios filmed from inside a tractor cab. It examines whether drivers can identify developing hazards and respond at the appropriate time.
Watch the driving scenario
The driver views realistic agricultural road footage from the perspective of the tractor cab.
Identify developing hazards
The assessment measures whether the driver recognises situations that may require them to take action.
Review performance
Results provide an objective indication of hazard perception performance and can help identify where further development may be beneficial.
Designed to complement practical tractor training programmes,by providing an objective assessment of the hazard perception skills needed when driving agricultural vehicles on public roads.
Deliver the assessment online or in virtual reality
The Tractor Hazard Perception Assessment is available through our online platform or as an immersive virtual reality assessment. Both formats use realistic tractor-driving scenarios to examine how effectively drivers recognise developing hazards.
Online assessment
Deliver the assessment remotely through EsituDrive, making it easy to assess individual drivers or larger groups without specialist equipment.
Virtual reality assessment
Place drivers within immersive agricultural driving scenarios and assess their hazard perception from the perspective of the tractor cab.
Turn online assessment results into practical insight
When the assessment is delivered online through EsituDrive, organisations receive a clear record of driver performance, helping them identify where further support or development may be beneficial.
Review individual results
View each driver’s online assessment performance and identify areas that may require further attention.
Compare performance across groups
Organise drivers into teams, sites or cohorts and review performance across the wider organisation.
Support targeted development
Use the results to inform follow-up discussions, learning activities or further driver development.
Assessment results should form part of a wider driver-development process. They can support informed conversations and help organisations focus further learning where it may be most useful.
Develop hazard perception skills beyond assessment
The Tractor Hazard Perception Assessment provides an objective measure of performance. For organisations looking to actively develop these skills, the assessment can also be incorporated into a trainer-led classroom programme.
Trainer-led learning
Facilitated discussion helps drivers explore how hazards develop, recognise the early clues within a situation and consider how their decisions can influence risk.
Immersive virtual reality
Drivers experience realistic agricultural road scenarios from the perspective of the tractor cab, creating an engaging basis for learning, reflection and group discussion.
Complements practical training
The programme is designed to complement practical tractor training by developing the hazard perception skills needed when driving agricultural vehicles on public roads.
A flexible programme for colleges, employers and training providers
Delivery can be adapted to suit the needs of different groups and can combine trainer-led activities with the Tractor Hazard Perception Assessment and immersive VR scenarios.
Evidence from young agricultural drivers
The trainer-led classroom programme was evaluated through a controlled study involving students from five agricultural colleges. Participants completed hazard perception assessments before and after the programme, allowing changes in hazard perception performance, knowledge and driving attitudes to be examined.
Greater improvement in hazard perception performance
Students who completed the tractor course improved their hazard perception scores more than students in the control course group, providing evidence of a positive training effect.
Higher hazard perception knowledge
Percentage of knowledge-review questions answered correctly following the course.
Safer driving attitudes
Driving attitudes among the tractor-course group shifted towards safer attitudes following the course.
Positive learning experience
Most students felt they had learned about hazard perception, considered the topic important and believed they had benefited from the course.
Realistic and immersive
On average, students described the VR content as realistic, immersive and comfortable, and reported enjoying the course and the use of VR.
Findings from Phase 1 of the tractor-based VR and classroom hazard perception training project.
Supporting agricultural drivers across training and employment
The Tractor Hazard Perception Assessment can be used by organisations looking to complement practical tractor training and develop the hazard perception skills required on public roads.
Agricultural colleges
Support students in developing road-based hazard perception skills alongside practical tractor handling and agricultural training.
Agricultural employers
Assess driver performance and identify where additional support or development may be beneficial before problems occur on the road.
Training providers
Incorporate tractor-specific hazard perception into wider agricultural driver training, workshops or classroom-based learning.
Young agricultural drivers
Develop the ability to recognise developing hazards, anticipate the behaviour of other road users and respond appropriately when driving agricultural vehicles on public roads.
Available online or in virtual reality, allowing the assessment to support remote delivery, individual assessment and trainer-led classroom learning.
Tractor Hazard Perception Assessment FAQs
Find out more about the assessment, who it is suitable for and how it can be delivered.
The assessment uses real tractor driving footage to examine how well drivers identify developing hazards when operating agricultural vehicles on public roads.
It is suitable for agricultural colleges, employers, training providers and organisations that want to support the development of tractor drivers.
Yes. The assessment can be delivered online through EsituDrive, allowing drivers to complete it remotely or as part of an organised training programme.
Yes. A virtual reality version of the assessment is available. Virtual reality can be delivered as a standalone assessment or incorporated into the trainer-led classroom programme, providing an immersive way to assess and develop hazard perception skills.
Yes. The assessment is designed to complement practical tractor training by providing an objective measure of the road-based hazard perception skills needed when driving agricultural vehicles on public roads..
Yes. We can demonstrate the assessment and discuss whether online or virtual reality delivery would be most appropriate for your organisation.
Yes. The Tractor Hazard Perception Assessment is available as a standalone online or virtual reality assessment. Organisations can also choose to incorporate it into the trainer-led classroom programme where they wish to combine assessment with facilitated learning activities.
Have another question? Get in touch with the Esitu team.
Ready to improve tractor hazard awareness?
See how our research-led Tractor Hazard Perception Assessment can help drivers recognise developing hazards and strengthen the road-safety skills that sit alongside practical tractor training.
