Lessons before lessons? 1 is the new 4.

ADIDriving

I was at a meeting with the RSA yesterday, to discuss the new Esential Driver Training (12 compulsory lessons for anyuone who gets their first learner permit from the 4th of april onwards).
Before we ADIs can sign/stamp to say we have given the learner their 1st EDT lesson, they will need to do 3 hours of driving with either an ADI or their Sponsor and have a basic working knowledge of the primary controls. Therefor some people will need lessons before their lessons and their 1st EDT lesson will be their 4th hour of driving.
Sound like a merry little dance; 1, 2, 3, 1...

brian076

I attended the meeting today in the Red Cow and I have to say the overall mood in the room from ADI's was very negative. There appears to be quite a lot of paper work and form filling involved, and I don't think the RSA have thought this through enough.

Unfortunately I had to leave early to attend a lesson so I missed most of the Q&A session, but if other ADI's were there or at yesterday's meeting, how do you feel it went?

One of the queries I have relates to the compulsory aspect of teaching Lessons 1 to 8 in order. What if a pupil turns up for a lesson, having already completed a course of lessons in another juristiction, eg UK or Northern Ireland. They may be on their first LP here but that doesn't mean they're beginners. Or even someone who holds a full licence in a non EU country, and merely wants some pre-tests.

DrivingMad

Due to go to our meeting on Monday. It sounds like a very complicated process, and I have, like you Brian, quiet a few questions. Especially as I downloaded the files relating to it today! Enough paper????
If you want to pose any questions in particular Brian... I will be more than happy to ask them on your behalf, and let you know the reply?

rsom

It certainly was very negative in the Red Cow today....mostly because half the room was making the same point and the RSA reps weren't acknowledging that we were right. It turns out that the log books and information leaflets have already gone to print and therefore the word "lesson" instead of "module" cannot be changed.

They have said that they will be using the media to inform the public of the exact process involved, but I can still see us ADI's suffering the backlash.

So for a complete beginner this is turning out to be a long and expensive process and for those with previous driving experience in another country it's probably possible for them to move through the lessons/modules somewhat quicker.

It remains to be seen what type of media campaign is launched by the RSA but I can see learning to drive being put on the long finger in this economic climate.

Trish

ADIDriving

rsom wrote: »

It turns out that the log books and information leaflets have already gone to print and therefore the word "lesson" instead of "module" cannot be changed.

They have said that they will be using the media to inform the public of the exact process involved, but I can still see us ADI's suffering the backlash.

Changing that word would still not be enough. It was part of many instructors feedback, that lesson 1 was too heavily loaded. Their very basic patch was to move the learning to before lesson 1. It either needs to be restructured or an additional loose page added to the log book or given with the new learners permit, emphisising their pre-EDT tasks. This is a suggestion I would ask Driving mad to suggest (again).

loobylou

Not just lesson 1.
Before EDT lesson 3 a student is meant to have practised for 3 hours with his sponsor,
positioning the vehicle on the straight
cornering
negotiating bends and junctions
changing lanes
entering and exiting from sliproads
entering and exiting junctions and roundabouts
correct positions within traffic lanes

This is supposed to be done by a student in a car without dual controls, after having only 2 lessons.:eek:

MascotDec85

I'm going to the meeting in Dundalk on the 14th March. Think I'll record it (audio) on my phone

MascotDec85

loobylou wrote: »

Not just lesson 1.
Before EDT lesson 3 a student is meant to have practised for 3 hours with his sponsor,
positioning the vehicle on the straight
cornering
negotiating bends and junctions
changing lanes
entering and exiting from sliproads
entering and exiting junctions and roundabouts
correct positions within traffic lanes

This is supposed to be done by a student in a car without dual controls, after having only 2 lessons.:eek:

There are fully licensed drivers on the road who can't do a number of those things properly themselves never mind pass the info onto to their son, daughter, nephew, niece etc etc

redsteveireland

rsom wrote: »

So for a complete beginner this is turning out to be a long and expensive process
Trish

My wife is trying to get ready for theory test, this is horrible news, the car she will be driving will probably cost less than what will be spent on lessons.
Although this will probably discourage the practice I heard about yesterday of people paying for someone to take the driving test for them! €500 is the going rate!

brian076

DrivingMad wrote: »

Due to go to our meeting on Monday. It sounds like a very complicated process, and I have, like you Brian, quiet a few questions. Especially as I downloaded the files relating to it today! Enough paper????
If you want to pose any questions in particular Brian... I will be more than happy to ask them on your behalf, and let you know the reply?

Thanks for the offer, that'd be great. The question I was going to ask is, and it's a bit longwinded:
If a pupil turns up for a lesson with a LP issued after 4/4, and they already have either undertaken lessons in another juristiction, perhaps to test standard, or have a full licence from a country outside the EU, how is an ADI expected to go through the EDT with them, when many of the modules are geared towards those at beginner level?

Bear in mind also, that someone with a full licence from another country doesn't have to wait 6 months to do their test, therefore an ADI may be expected to complete all 12 lessons in a few weeks, and that's before doing any pre tests. Makes no sense whatsoever.

DrivingTestTips: Brian

I have posted this elsewhere, but this it should go here also.

The information received at ADI meetings regarding the EDT is as follows:

• The EDT (12 mandatory lessons) are there to help you learn as a new beginner driver.
• It is not a guarantee you will be a competent driver after.
• You will need practice between your EDT lessons.
• You will need to learn as much as possible before you take an EDT lesson.
• As a new learner (with no experiences) you will not on completion of your EDT be at driving test standard.
• You may (in my experience you will) need to take extra lessons after or between your EDT lessons.

I have put this up so that learner drivers KNOW what to expect.

Please Note:
ALL ADIs attending the meetings were concerned that you the learner will expect your driving would meet driving test standard on completion of your EDT; we were also very concerned that you would believe you are a competent driver on completion of your EDT. In reality signing off (ADI stamps your logbook) on your EDT is only to say you completed the lessons and is in no way a signing of competence.


I hope I have made this clear because this issue lasted hours at the meetings.

I attended two meetings and the reaction form the ADIs was identical.

If I can I will attend as many as possible.