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James May Fails Modern Driving Test After Two Speeding Offences

Filmed footage shows an examiner classed two speed breaches as serious faults under current rules which produced an automatic fail.

Overview

  • The former Top Gear presenter took a recorded driving assessment from Salisbury Driving Test Centre and did not pass the modern practical exam.
  • Video posted to his YouTube channels shows him driving at 46mph in a 40mph zone and 33mph in a 30mph zone, offences the examiner recorded as serious faults.
  • The test used a dual‑control car and official test routes with an instructor present, giving the filmed run procedural legitimacy.
  • May said he had not revised for the retake, accepted the result in good humour and signed off the video with the line “Do as I say, not as I do.”
  • The episode underlines how stricter enforcement of speed limits and current scoring rules can cause even experienced, licensed drivers to fail a modern driving test.