EDT Clarification..

hattoncracker

Ok, so I got my theory test in August.. Was just glad to have it, wasn't planning on learning to drive until I could afford to buy the lessons, and buy a car, insurance, tax, etc, and since I've just moved to the area and had only started college, I wanted to do some research..

My mother, being the lovely lady that she is, went and got me an instructor and paid for some lessons for me, but the problem was I had no car, didn't realise that I needed a sponsor until after my first lesson, and only knew one person could take me, but since I wasn't insured on her car she wouldn't take the risk of letting me drive it.

Thats all sidelined to the issue I have but I've gone through about 16 lessons and passed 6 of the EDTs.. Is it the case that u have to do one EDT every lesson, or is it at your instructors discretion when you can pass them? I'm not a bad driver, I just have nothing to practice in. But I got a car at xmas so that will change now, but I can't reverse or park my car and I'm not allowed to drive alone, so I can't really do an awful lot with it.

Between myself and my mum we have spent the guts of about €700 on these lessons, and I'm loosing heart with them because it's not progressing at all really..


Any advice people?

Lon Dubh

I am a learner too so feel free to take anything I say with a grain of salt

That seems quite good progress to me considering you did not have a car to practice in. I've had twice that many lessons and only 6 stamps

You will probably progress a lot quicker though once you can practice in between lessons. I think the instructor has to deem you to be at a certain level before giving each stamp, but if you can practice in between you will probably not need as many lessons to get each stamp.

You could give it a bit more time and see. If however in general you don't like the instructor's style you could try another one. I was frustrated with mine and just switched to another one. I've only had one lesson so far with the new one but I am shocked at the difference it makes, even though I had hoped for some improvement. The new one is much better at teaching and giving me information so I think I will progress much better with him.

Lon Dubh

Just to add to that. What you could do is practice in between until you feel you are probably ready to pass the next EDT lesson and then pay for a lesson, and then delay the next lesson until you feel ready to pass the next EDT lesson and so on.

MascotDec85

hattoncracker wrote: »

Ok, so I got my theory test in August.. Was just glad to have it, wasn't planning on learning to drive until I could afford to buy the lessons, and buy a car, insurance, tax, etc, and since I've just moved to the area and had only started college, I wanted to do some research..

My mother, being the lovely lady that she is, went and got me an instructor and paid for some lessons for me, but the problem was I had no car, didn't realise that I needed a sponsor until after my first lesson, and only knew one person could take me, but since I wasn't insured on her car she wouldn't take the risk of letting me drive it.

Thats all sidelined to the issue I have but I've gone through about 16 lessons and passed 6 of the EDTs.. Is it the case that u have to do one EDT every lesson, or is it at your instructors discretion when you can pass them? I'm not a bad driver, I just have nothing to practice in. But I got a car at xmas so that will change now, but I can't reverse or park my car and I'm not allowed to drive alone, so I can't really do an awful lot with it.

Between myself and my mum we have spent the guts of about €700 on these lessons, and I'm loosing heart with them because it's not progressing at all really..


Any advice people?

This is my reply from another thread:

MascotDec85 wrote: »

Essential Driver Training (EDT) is a syllabus of 12 lessons which must be given by an RSA Approved Driving Instructor (ADI). Only an ADI can provide a learner driver with the required logbook and then subsequently stamp to say the individual 12 EDT lessons have been delivered.

The RSA recommend the learner driver has a sponsor (mum, dad, auntie, uncle etc etc someone who has held a full licence for at least 2 years) who helps the pupil practice the skills taught during each EDT lesson. The sponsor should not receive payment for this unless the ADI takes the role of the sponsor. This may happen if the learner cannot get insured on an alternative car or doesn't have anyone who can practice with for example.

After most of the earlier EDT lessons the RSA recommend that the learner should practice the skills taught in the previous EDT lesson for around 3 hours prior to moving onto the next EDT lesson. As explained above these practice sessions can be done with the help of the sponsor and/or the ADI.

The sponsor is not required ultimately but how else are you to practice the skills taught during the EDT lessons legally if you practice alone or without an ADI or family member/friend?

The system does have flaws but it's what we have to abide by just now.


Here's the EDT Info Booklet for your info:
http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Learner%20Drivers/Driver%20Training/Essential%20Driver%20Training%20A5%20WEB.pdf

It's not a case of "passing" the EDT lessons. It's a case of having the lesson taught/delivered to you and the lesson being stamped/signed off as having been given. You are then supposed to practice the skills taught for around 3 hours to give you a chance to fine tune them.
Important to remember that we all learn at different rates though!

EDT 5 should have covered reversing

ADIDriving

The instructor should stamp the logbook when they deliver the lesson. But they can choose not to deliver the next lesson until you are ready.
Some instructors are following the guidelines very rigidly for whatever reason. Some are following the rules, but using their own qualified judgement as to the guidelines.
Firstly, talk to your instructor about your concerns. That may be an easy sollution. If you are not happy with their response consider changing instructor.