I think part of this could be down to spatial awareness and us dyspraxics can be a little challenged in this area. Personally, I find the architecture of the car can make a big difference because they all have differing visibility.
For example, when I leant and passed my test a little over 20 years ago now, the popular choice of learner vehicle was a Vauxhall Corsa, the original uk which was a small hot hatch, not like the family sized affair the current generation of corsa seems to be. The first car I bought for myself was the then coras’s predecessor, a Vauxhall Nova (god, i loved that car). It’s small size lent itself to good all round visibility and I genuinely felt that I could sense exactly where each corner and inch of the whole thing was. Apart from occasionally flooding the engine, manual choke!!! (many of you here will be far too young to have a foggiest what that is) It was so easy to drive, manoeuvre and park…. well except for that one time that inexplicably drove the headlight into a pole whilst parking
but i digress.
The thing is, the newer cars are then the more they’re built to NCAP standards and therefore the larger they seem to get. (I just wish parking spaces would increase proportionally too) You’re more cocooned inside the car and I find that the visibility is significantly reduced. Since that little Nova, I’ve had an 80s Volkwagon Jetta, 80/90s Vauxhall Astra, early 00s Ford Fiesta, early 00s Ford Focus and now an Vauxhall Corsa.. which is approximately 8 years old.
With exception of the Fiesta, none of those have come close to giving me the feeling of having good spatial awareness behind the wheel or the feel of where each corner of the car is. Even the Corsa I drive now is appalling in comparison… especially the rear and blindspot for how it’s shaped. Don’t get me wrong I love he car… but gawd it’s tricky judging where the bodywork is when reversing
But this is the way cars are going. It’s safer. Well in respect to driver / passenger safety anyway. If I lived on the almafi coast in Italy then I would 100% drive a fiat 500, for they remain reassuringly dinky.
For today’s generation of cars though… theres little you can do except get out there and practice… and basically gain a bit of ‘muscle memory’ for the spatial awareness, depth perception etc. Sometimes it just takes a little more concentration.
Remember, driving is as much about attitude as it is about physical capability. And unfortunately theres plenty of drivers on the road with poor attitude to driving irrespective of their physical capabilities.