Working memory and driving

I think that trying to increase your working memory is a high-effort low-benefit avenue to learn to drive (although it might have benefits elsewhere). Many many people have learnt to drive without having to do such things, so I'm (statistically) sure you can too.

I think a better method would be to leverage how the brain works, i.e. "practice makes perfect". I learnt in 2 stages:

1. learn the mechanics of moving the car around (acceleration, steering, changing gears (in a manual car), using the turn signal etc) until they become almost automatic actions, e.g. when coming up to a corner you think "use the signal" (and just do it) rather than "a corner... what do I do? ... use the signal ... where's the lever? ... which way do I push it?". This is best done in quiet areas, such a mostly empty car park (I don't know where you are so I'm not sure how feasible this is).

2. introduce the other bits of driving, like other cars, traffic lights, having to navigate somewhere, gradually. So start with light traffic and build up. Start with the teacher prompting every turn you have to make so you don't have to think about longer term directions, and then (in areas you know well) have this ease off to something like "past the " or "go home".

And practise, practise, practise.

(EDIT: correcting formatting)

Funnily enough, some of the working memory training research was about driving! See http://www.gwern.net/DNB%20FAQ#seidler-2010

Let's see, looking at the abstract, the conclusion for driving specifically (emphasis added):

Although the results for older adults are preliminary as participants are still completing the intervention, they show transfer to the complex motor tasks and the driving simulator measures, particularly under dual task conditions. These results suggest that working memory training may be a useful intervention to improve driving in older adults, but has minimal impact in relatively high functioning young adults.

Maybe your WM really really sucks and so it might still be helpful?

In my experience, there is always a "clumsy" period in learning a skill which involves maintaining multiple concurrent physical processes. I don't believe working memory has much to do with overcoming it. It's more typically a case of "wrapping" a complex action into one you can carry out on demand. Right now, pulling over seems like it involves a lot of minor actions (mirror, signal, break, mirror, clutch, gear, cancel signal, handbrake...), but your brain eventually wraps it all up into a single major action.

I would advise changing your instructor if they're a source of stress. Even as a skilled driver, a stressful passenger can seriously impair your ability to concentrate.

Y'know, learning to ride a bike is almost as difficult. You will get the hang of it. I know it, because I'm just now learning this, too.

I've been driving for years and I still make mistakes when there's a stressful person in the car with me. You need a new teacher.

Seconding dbaupp, there might be people who can consciously manage all details of the various subskills at the same time (I don't know anyone like that though), but if you don't belong to them it's almost certainly far easier to learn to drive the way other people who can't do that do: Practice until the subskills don't require more than a manageable level of conscious attention (for many (most?) people eventually zero attention on well known routes). You could also try looking over your shoulder and imagining yourself using the turn signal whenever you walk around a corner, for example.