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 <strong>Newslink</strong>, 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 <strong>Newslink</strong>: see pg 20 NEWSLINK n OCTOBER <strong>2021</strong>
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