What is Essential Driver Training?
Essential Driver Training (EDT) is a mandatory training course that teaches fundamental driving skills to learner car drivers.
EDT 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 4 April 2011, in order to be able to sit your full driving test, you must first complete all EDT lessons.
What does EDT involve?
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. As you complete each lesson, your Approved Driving Instructor will record your progress in a specially issued logbook.
You may also have a Sponsor, an experienced driver (many learner drivers choose a family member) who will supervise your driving practice outside of lessons, and will also track your progress in your logbook.
After you finish your EDT course, you may still need additional lessons with an ADI to improve your driving skills.
Additionally, 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 on the appointed test date,as you may be required to show it to the examiner.
What does EDT cost?
There is no set charge for EDT lessons and each ADI sets their own fees. The RSA recommends that you ring several ADI's to enquire about the fees and and also to see if the if the ADI is right for you.
Recommendations from family and friends may also prove useful in helping you to make your choice.
Remember the cheapest option is not always the best choice.
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 lessons. They should let you know what lessons, 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
Lessons 1-8 must be taken in sequence, but lessons 9-12 may be taken in any order.
Each of the 12 lessons in EDT lasts about one hour.
We recommend that you leave at least two weeks between each EDT lesson to allow for further instruction,practice and learning.
The EDT course is best spread out over six months.
What do the lessons cover?
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 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
