Confused about EDT

crazyginlady

Firstly , Im sorry this had been asked a lot previously but I looked and couldnt find a thread to help . I have just passed my thoery test and sent the application forms for my provisional licence . So now Im looking for an instructor to complete my 12 mandatory lessons with . I have a sponsor who is willing to practice with me twice a week in his own car also . My confusion is because I was told by an instructor that I would probably need more than the 12 lessons as I would need one to prepare for the EDT , is this right ? He suggested I get my sponsor to run through the basics of driving also . He says the sooner I have my own car the better , I would have assumed I was better to wait until I had at least finished the mandatory lessons . So now I'm totally confused and looking for advice .

**Timbuk2**

You just need to do the 12 lessons with an instructor as far as I know, but it's possible that the instructor mightn't sign off until he is confident that you have completed the 'syllabus' for EDT, which possibly might take more than 12 lessons (I'm really not exactly sure how it works).

I agree with him that you should get your sponsor to teach you the basics beforehand. By the basics, I mean going to an empty carpark, learning the main controls and secondary controls of the car, adjusting seat and mirrors, moving off in 1st gear (getting used to using the clutch) and if there's room, changing to 2nd and maybe possibly 3rd gear.

Once you know the basics, it means you should progress quicker during the lessons - saves you paying €30-€40 an hour to drive around an industrial estate finding biting points and whatnot!

crazyginlady

Thanks that realy helps me figure out what he was saying . What I'll do is get my sponsor to run through the basics and get him to take me out to practice one a week , was just looking through the logbook . I'm pretty stunned about how much is involved in it all.

ADIDriving

The confusion is caused by the fact that you need to have driven for three hours before doing your first EDT lesson. You are not legally required to take more then the 12, but would you have taken your first few hours driving with an instructor anyway? If you don't have pretty good idea of th gears and clutch before your first EDT lesson, it will melt your head with the amount of new info. As you have seen from your log book there is a lot involved. So you don't HAVE to take more then the 12, but your instructor is being honest, fair and realistic, if they are suggesting you SHOULD.

crazyginlady

Great to know , cheers . I appreciate knowing he is just being straight forward with me and am looking forward to getting started now .