Remember Emma Snedden? She’s the Lincolnshire Echo reporter who took 13 attempts to pass her driving test.
Now she’s a fully-fledged driver, the Echo sent her to Sheffield to try a virtual-reality experience that is soon to become part of the driving test.

Parked badly on a busy estate road is a van. You could ignore it, carrying on past without changing speed.

But out of the side door comes a large man, carrying two boxes. He’s not looking at the road.

If you had carried on, he would have been killed. This kind of accident is what the hazard perception test aims to stop.

Due to be introduced as part of the driving theory test in autumn next year, the 20-minute exam involves 15 real-life video clips.

During each clip, the learner driver has to identify situations which would require action, like slowing down, stopping or changing direction.

The new test is being trialled around the country at the moment, and more than 12,000 adults are due to take part.

These include learners, novice drivers and those more experienced on the road.

The aim of the test is to make new drivers more aware of possible hazards on the road, and wait until they have sufficient experience before they take the theory test.

There are 650 clips in total, collected by a DSA specially adapted car during the last year.

Taking the test, you are struck with a feeling of recognition because each clip is anonymous.

The crowded estate could easily be the Lincoln examiners’ favourite St Giles, the wide highways could be the bypass, and the country roads could be the way to any of the city’s satellite villages.

Fears that the test could just be an extended video game are dashed because of the realism on the screen.

Road surfaces shine with moisture when it’s raining, people walk up and down the street.

But even though the footage is taken from real life, it does have a slightly other-worldly feel.

It jerks around, and blurs. At points my vision was confused, but on the whole I found it to be a useful experience.

Some hazards are obvious, such as two pedestrians crossing the road without looking.

But there are still surprises lurking around every corner. A car lurches out of a side road, which is covered by a badly parked van.

Coming round a blind bend is a speeding car, overtaking dangerously.

There was one clip where I couldn’t identify any major hazards, but that could be because I am a new driver, not because there wasn’t one to be seen.

By the end of the test, I found I was clicking on everything that moved.

In one clip, I discovered that I had pressed the mouse button 17 times.

But anything that makes you more aware of the potential hazards that can pop up at any time during a drive is worth a try.

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