It is a requirement when you take a driving test that the assessor judge what you are looking at. That way, they can see if you’re checking for hazards.
This is impossible.
My attention does not move with my head. My retinas contain more light sensing rod cells at the periphery, which are better at detecting movement and hazards. People are better at sensing hazards at the edge of their field of view. It is impossible for an assessor to see a driver check for hazards at the edge of their view.
In order to pass a test, I must move my attention, my eyes, and my whole head when I look in the mirror or for other hazards. This is slow. I have autism. My attention already moves slowly. The added distraction of doing this is dangerous. I might as well be looking at my phone for all the trouble it causes me with paying attention.
Driving tests are fundamentally flawed and the job assessors are asked to do is impossible. You cannot see someone’s attention move when they are driving optimally. Driving tests require drivers to drive worse.
I have been “advanced” in most areas of things that I’ve applied myself to, but for some fucking reason, driving has always been my arch nemesis. I just got my permit and I still absolutely blow so far.
That’s because you’re expected to socialise with other people whose faces your can’t see in a high speed death defying environment.
Telling what everyone else is doing in their cars is a form of social perception.
You put into words what I’ve been struggling with. I have an experienced loved one giving me lessons soon with my learner’s permit, but it’s going to be a long ass process.
I found the most effective way to get comfortable and learn is to go to a mall or something similar. Then park in every single parking spot. You can change the difficulty depending on day of the week and time. This way you have low risk opportunities to do all the things required for driving so you can build your confidence and learn how to deal with the sensory overloads.
That was part of the plan, the mall- but I really like your parking spot idea. I actually have done so before, to the point of just looping endlessly in the lane outside circling the mall, haha! Thanks for the reply :)