Essential Driver Training

Essential Driver Training (EDT) is a compulsory training course that teaches fundamental driving skills to learner car drivers. It is only part of the learning process - you will need lots of practice and may need more lessons to become a safe driver.

If the issue date of your first B category (Car) learner permit is on or after 4th April 2011, in order to be able to sit your full driving test, you must first complete all EDT lessons.

EDT is a course of 12 one-hour lessons. These lessons are designed to cover certain critical driving skills and improve your practical driving skills.

THE LESSONS
At your first EDT lesson, and each lesson thereafter, your instructor will check your learner permit, and if you are using your own car, will check to make sure your insurance, motor tax, NCT and the roadworthiness of the vehicle are all in order.

Your instructor will give you a logbook with your name, address, date of birth and learner permit driver number. You should bring this logbook to each lesson and make sure all the appropriate sections are filled out after each lesson.

Lessons 1-8 must be taken in sequence, but lessons 9-12 may be taken in any order.

Each of the EDT lessons has particular objectives. You should prepare for each lesson using the EDT Course Syllabus.

The 12 lessons are titled:

LESSON 1: Car controls and safety checks
LESSON 2: Correct positioning
LESSON 3: Changing direction
LESSON 4: Progression management
LESSON 5: Correct positioning
LESSON 6: Anticipation & reaction
LESSON 7: Sharing the road
LESSON 8: Driving safely through traffic
LESSON 9: Changing direction (More complex situations)
LESSON 10: Speed management
LESSON 11: Driving calmly
LESSON 12: Night driving

You should also have a Sponsor who is an experienced driver to supervise your driving practice outside of lessons, and who will also track your progress in your logbook.

After you finish your EDT course, you may still need additional driving lessons to improve your driving skills further. You should practice with your Sponsor as much as possible to get comfortable behind the wheel.

On the day of your driving test you should bring your completed logbook with you, as you may be required to show it to the examiner.

The logbook also provides space for both you and your Sponsor to assess your performance in your EDT lessons. This evaluation will help you understand what you need to practice to become a safer driver and how best to prepare for your next lesson.

If your logbook gets lost or damaged, you should make a report with the Gardai and you will then need to obtain a duplicate logbook from your driving instructor. This may involve a waiting period, so it is important that you keep your logbook secure.

More information on EDT can be found on the Road Safety Authority's website at www.rsa.ie.