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Essential Driver Training
What is Essential Driver Training?
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.
Essential Driver Training (EDT) is a mandatory training course that teaches fundamental driving skills to learner car drivers. It is part of the RSA’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) scheme and is intended to improve road safety. EDT is only part of the learning process, you will need lots of practice and may need more lesson to become a safe driver.
Why do I need EDT? Studies show that young drivers and inexperienced drivers are more likely to die or be seriously injured in collisions, and EDT is one of several measures introduced by the RSA to help improve critical driving knowledge, skills and behaviours of new drivers. If you are not required to complete EDT, you may still choose to take an EDT course, as it can help increase your chances of passing the driving test and will help make you a better safer driver.
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 (ADI) will record your progress in a specially issued logbook. You should 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.
Benefits of EDT Completing your essential driver training course will help you to:
The Lessons The Essential Driver Training course is made up of 12 one-hour lessons, which you must complete before taking your Driving test.
Preparation for your first lesson 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
What do the lessons cover? Each of the EDT lessons has particular objectives. You should prepare for each lesson using the EDT Course Syllabus.
Your Logbook When you start your first EDT lesson, you will be given an official logbook by your ADI to record the details of your training and progress, as well as necessary preparation for your next lessons. When you complete an EDT lesson, your ADI will stamp the relevant section of your logbook and record some feedback on how well or whether you met the lesson objectives. To meet the lesson objectives you must prepare properly, practice with a Sponsor and you may need to take additional instruction. An ADI can only sign the lessons they have given, so be sure to get your logbook updated by your ADI after each lesson. 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.
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