Newslink October 2021

Product review
James’ new films are breath of fresh air
to blow away stuffy L-test training aids
TV presenter James May has added a
new option to his popular learner driver
training app, My Theory Test by James
May, with a no-nonsense fun video
called ‘How Not to Fail Your Practical
Driving Test’. It’s an extra item that can
be purchased from within the My Theory
Test app for just £2.99.
Rated 4.9 stars out of five of over
6,500 ratings, My Theory Test by James
May is currently the highest-rated driver
training app in the UK.
The new video, based on based around
the official DVSA ‘Top 10 reasons for
failing the driving test’ that was released
earlier this year, has James stood in front
of a wonderfully retro diorama board
showing a street layout, with model cars
used to highlight different driving
scenarios as he runs though the major
pitfalls that result in L-test failure.
Sounds old-fashioned? It’s meant to
be. As James told Newslink, it’s a perfect
antidote to the hi-tech imagery and
visuals DVSA uses on the theory test.
“The DVSA’s HPT clips are impressive
to look at, but they suggest that driving is
a hugely dangerous pastime in which
you can have your life taken away at any
second,” he said. “While you can never
over-state that there are dangers when
you’re driving, and you have to be paying
attention all the time, it’s all too
intimidating and scary. What’s wrong
with suggesting that driving can be fun?”
he asked. “It’s a great thing to do.”
“The hi-tech approach is slightly
flawed because it builds up the fear
factor too much among learners. What
we do on the video is show how not to
fail your L-test in short, practical sessions
using the cars, the diorama board and a
bit of chat. The points I make are really
clear and based around life skills that we
all already know.”
Overall, to James, success in the L-test
is about “being patient and staying calm.”
“Candidates have got the skills; it’s just
about transferring them to the test day.”
How Not to Fail Your Practical Driving
Test breaks the tests itself down into 12
easily digestible films, each around 4-6
minutes long. Each one covers a particular
part of driving – steering, road positioning,
observation, handling, etc – and highlights
the most common mistakes that
candidates make, resulting in a test fail.
18
James is at pains to stress that he is
not teaching people how to drive. “That’s
the ADIs’ job. What I’m trying to do is
highlight where things tend to go wrong
on the test itself in a practical, common
sense way.”
The narrative is interspersed with May’s
trademark sardonic wit. “Trying not to kill
orphans” is pointed out as a goal to not
failing the test – examiners “tend to frown
upon that” – and his advice that “it’s only
driving… billions do it every day. Just keep
calm and relax” might sound blindingly
obvious but carries a lot of weight.
In many ways May is carrying forward
the personality we all know from Top
Gear and The Grand Tour, that of the
nation’s avuncular driving uncle, steeped
in wisdom but determined not to talk
down to young people. He’s stripped
away the pomposity that often comes
along with driving training aids and
pulled together an hour of straight-talking
common sense that makes taking the
L-test feel less daunting.
It’s as far from hi-tech as you will get,
but there’s something timeless and
charming about watching James push
model cars around the diorama as he
James
May
pictured in
stills from
the videos,
with his
model cars
and
diorama
street
scene
demonstrates the right way to pull off
from the side of the road or handle a
junction. The advice he gives and the
way it comes across is relatable and
makes light of the fears many candidates
have about the test.
I guinea-pigged it on my 20-year-old
daughter, currently going through her
own learning to drive journey. She sat
through each film, giggling often, but
– crucially - picking up several key
snippets of advice along the way. In
particular, she says she now drives like a
COW: keeping Calm, Observing all the
time and being prepared to Wait.
There are good reminders about technical
points, particularly on moving off, road
positioning, reading the road and handling
junctions, but the main thrust is on
staying calm, remaining patient and not
bowing to the pressure of the situation.
This is the kind of training aid every
candidate should watch a few times in
the run-up to their L-test itself: some
sage-like advice from a chap who’s not
taking himself too seriously.
For those learners on their way to the
theory test with James’ app, it’s a really
worthwhile addition at just £2.99. If it
does nothing else, it will remind
candidates that their examiner is human
and just wants to see that you can drive
in a way that keeps you safe – and is
probably called Gary.
• My Theory Test by James May and the
in-app video How Not to Fail Your
Practical Driving Test can be purchased
from all your usual online app stores.
ADIs: to find out more about the app
(and receive a free copy), go to
https://www.jamesmaytheorytest.com/
driving-instructors/
• James May talks to Newslink: see pg 20
NEWSLINK n OCTOBER 2021