Mandatory 12 Lessons (EDT)

Essential Driver Training is a training course teaching fundamental driving

The Sessions

The Essential Driver Training course is made up of 12 one-hour Sessions which you must complete before taking your Driving test. IMPORTANT Before you begin your training, you should check that your chosen instructor is currently approved for the delivery of EDT, check here, RSA.ie - Find an Instructor. On the day of your training your trainer will be happy to confirm their continuing RSA approval. Only undertake EDT training once you are satisfied that your trainer still holds RSA approval. Training completed with an individual who does not currently hold RSA approval cannot count as part of your EDT and will need to be repeated with an RSA EDT approved Instructor.

Preparation for your first lesson

Once you’ve found an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI), ask them for advice on how to prepare for the course of EDT Sessions. They should let you know what Sessions,practice and background reading you should do before starting the course.

At your first EDT lesson, and each lesson thereafter, your ADI 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 ADI 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.

EDT lessons timeline

You must take EDT Session 1 first in order to establish the base line. Thereafter you shall take sessions 2 to 8 and sessions 9 to 12. Sessions 9 to 12 may not be taken until sessions 2 to 8 have been completed. sessions 2 to 8 and sessions 9 to 12 are not required to be taken in sequence.

What do the lessons cover?

Each of the EDT Sessions has particular objectives. You should prepare for each lesson using the EDT Course Syllabus.
The 12 Sessions 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 AND 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 can read more about the lessons in the EDT Learner Driver Information Booklet and the Sample Learner Booklet here http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Learner Drivers/Driver Training/ EDT Learner Logbook.pdf