A former soldier-turned-driving instructor has been answering questions of the road we have all wanted to ask through his YouTube channel

A former soldier-turned-driving instructor has been answering questions of the road we have all wanted to ask through his social media channel.

James Simpkins, from Shimpling, became a driving instructor in January 2017 after being medically discharged from the Army Air Corps the previous year.

Having established his business, he then started his YouTube channel, Driving Instructor UK, after having questions himself about some rules of the road.

“When I left the army, I did not know what I wanted to do next, and I pretty much feel into driving tuition and found my new love,” said the 39-year-old.

“But, I started the videos in November 2023, because even though I was an instructor in the army I realised there were so many little things I didn’t know and I had been driving for about 13 years by then.

“I saw there was not much help back then online for those little bits of road knowledge, so I started it so there was a place for people to turn to to find out more about driving.”

Since the channel started, Mr Simpkins said he has had so much positive feedback and drivers of all ages asking questions he has been able to help find the answers to.

“I had someone who had been driving for 30 years ask if they could use a bus lane to overtake someone who was waiting to turn right, so I was able to give him that info and it is a lovely feeling,” he said.

The father-of-two has even got his two daughters, eight-year-old Poppy and Rosie who is five, in the videos.

“They realy enjoy being a part of them, but for me, it also about getting them thinking about road safety early as they see from the back seat what I do as a driver.”

Asked about what he loves about teaching people to drive, Mr Simpkins added: “It is that lightbulb moment. When you see in that student’s head, they go ‘oh I get it that now’ and they do not need you anymore for that particular thing.

“Those moments for me are better than the passes because you see that student just transform as a driver and that means the world to me.”