James May Says Real Car Fans Hate Dangerous Driving
James May, the former Top Gear presenter, has publicly condemned dangerous driving for social media content, stating that genuine car enthusiasts reject reckless road behaviour. His remarks follow the A66 highway tragedy in Britain that killed seven people, including two police officers. For Malaysian drivers, content creators, and automotive communities, this positions real driving culture as track-based, controlled and safety-oriented — not as a vehicle for viral attention.
Key Facts
The statement by James May about dangerous driving for social media content was issued on 27 August 2026, in response to the A66 tragedy that occurred in Britain.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaker | James May (former Top Gear presenter) |
| Date of statement | 27 August 2026 |
| Context | A66 highway tragedy, Britain |
| Deaths in A66 incident | 7 (including 2 police officers) |
| Report source | CarThrottle (26 August 2026) |
| Interview host | James O'Brien (LBC) |
| Regulatory framework cited | Online Safety Act (UK) |
| Platforms mentioned | TikTok, social media platforms |
| Currency relevance | None stated in source — no RM conversion applicable |
| Local relevance | Applies to Malaysian social media car content and track-day culture (e.g., Sepang) |
Why Did James May Condemn Dangerous Driving for Social Media Content?
James May condemned dangerous driving for social media content because it damages the reputation of genuine car culture and puts lives at risk on public roads. In an interview with James O'Brien on LBC, May said that watching a stunt on the internet does not automatically make someone copy it, but he rejected videos that show speeding, provoking police, or endangering other road users as not representative of the automotive community.
“Real car fans hate things like this. In the end it just gives cars a bad image.”
— James May, LBC interview via CarThrottle, 26 August 2026
What Was the A66 Highway Tragedy?
The A66 highway tragedy refers to an incident in Britain that killed seven people, including two police officers, and triggered a fresh debate about dangerous-driving videos on social media platforms. Cleveland Police stated that as of now there is no evidence that the event leading to the A66 crash was specifically filmed for upload to TikTok. The incident has become the central case study in discussions about the responsibility of platforms like TikTok to remove content that glorifies reckless driving.
Who Bears Responsibility for Dangerous Driving Videos?
James May said social media platforms do have a responsibility to remove content that glorifies reckless driving, but they are not the sole cause of individual choices to drive dangerously. He argued that blaming TikTok or other social media apps entirely can obscure the real problem — the decision of an individual to drive in an unsafe manner. The UK government, per the source, is reportedly ready to use powers under the Online Safety Act to force technology companies to remove such harmful content.
TikTok states it already prohibits content that could potentially cause physical harm. The algorithm issue, as May acknowledged, is that sensational content receives more visibility, which can encourage extreme behaviour for views.
If You Want to Drive Fast, Go to the Circuit
James May recommends that drivers who want to experience high-performance vehicles at speed use controlled environments such as race tracks or track-day events. This is consistent with the Malaysian circuit culture where enthusiasts at Sepang International Circuit can explore vehicle capability with a much higher safety margin than on public roads. May distinguishes between enjoying a high-performance car, learning proper driving techniques on a circuit, and using public roads as a stage for social media attention.
What Is the Role of Social Media Algorithms in Dangerous Driving Content?
Social media algorithms that promote sensational content can encourage some individuals to perform more extreme stunts in pursuit of views. James May does not deny this and says social media can play a role in the problem. However, he also argues that blaming an app or algorithm entirely can obscure what he considers to be the real issue — a personal responsibility to not drive dangerously on public roads. The A66 tragedy discussions include calls for platforms to respond faster to these harmful videos.
Who Is This For in Malaysia?
This commentary on James May is directly relevant to Malaysian car enthusiasts, social media content creators, and daily drivers in Kuala Lumpur or the wider Klang Valley who share driving content online. The typical audience might be a young Malaysian driver in a compact apartment — living with constrained parking and tropical weather — who uses social media like TikTok or YouTube to follow car culture, but wants to distinguish legitimately skilled motorsport from reckless road behaviour.
- Compact urban dwellers: Coverage of track days at Sepang International Circuit offers a safe outlet for high-performance driving.
- Social media content creators: Malaysian creators should note that the statement draws a clear line between track-based content and dangerous public-road stunts.
- Riders and drivers concerned about road safety: The A66 tragedy highlights the real-world cost of driving glamorised road incidents, which resonates with Malaysian road-safety awareness.
Common Questions
Does James May ban all speed driving, or just on public roads?
May does not ban speed driving per se — he advocates doing it in controlled circuits. He said there is a huge difference between enjoying a high-performance car on a track and using public roads as a platform for social media attention.
What did James May say about TikTok and platforms?
He said social media platforms have a responsibility to remove content that glorifies reckless driving, but it is too easy to put all the blame on TikTok. Algorithms that favour sensational content can encourage dangerous stunts, but the individual decision to drive dangerously is the main problem.
What is the Online Safety Act in relation to dangerous driving videos?
The British government is reported ready to use the Online Safety Act to force technology companies to remove content that glorifies dangerous driving. Cleveland Police says there is currently no proof that the A66 crash was filmed specifically for TikTok.
Sources and Methodology
This article is based on the primary source: “James May: Peminat Kereta Sebenar Benci Pemanduan Berbahaya Demi Content Media Sosial” published by Careta.my on 27 August 2026, authored by Qalif Latif. The source article cites CarThrottle’s report from 26 August 2026 as an independent reporting of James May’s interview on LBC.
No currency conversion was required because the source contains no monetary figures. The source uses Malay-language text; all non-English names and proper nouns are preserved. British English spellings are used. This article was last updated on 27 August 2026. Malaysia-specific information was not verified from a secondary source and remains general context from the primary report.