EDT Session 1 — Car Controls and Safety Checks

EDT Session 1 is the mandatory first session in your Essential Driver Training programme. Before you touch the roads, you need to know your car — every control, every safety check, and every instrument on the dashboard. This guide covers exactly what the RSA requires you to learn in Session 1, why each control matters, and how to prepare so you get maximum value from your first lesson.

What Is EDT Session 1?

EDT Session 1 is titled "Car Controls and Safety Checks" in the official RSA EDT syllabus. It is the only EDT session with a fixed position in the programme — it must always be completed before any other session can begin. The RSA mandates this because Session 1 establishes your baseline: your ADI needs to confirm that you have a safe, functional understanding of the vehicle before taking you anywhere near public roads.

Session 1 does not involve driving in traffic. You will not be assessed on your ability to steer, change gears, or judge gaps in moving traffic. Its sole purpose is to ensure you know your car — every control, every instrument, every safety check — before the driving begins in earnest from Session 2 onwards.

This session sets the tone for the entire EDT programme. The RSA's approach is to build driving competence from the ground up: first the vehicle, then basic positioning, then observation, then progressively more complex traffic scenarios. Session 1 is the foundation every subsequent session is built on.

RSA Objective and Minimum Content for Session 1

The RSA is precise about what Session 1 must achieve. According to the official EDT booklet, during Session 1 your ADI must make sure that:

• You can carry out appropriate pre-start vehicle checks, including checking the roadworthiness of the vehicle
• You understand the vehicle's primary and secondary controls and know how to use them correctly

At a minimum, Session 1 must cover:

• The use of primary and secondary controls
• Vehicle safety
• Vehicle roadworthiness

How the RSA Says to Prepare for Session 1

The RSA is explicit that you should not arrive at Session 1 as a complete blank. The official guidance states you should have done at least three hours of practice before your first EDT session. Specifically, before attending Session 1 you should have familiarised yourself with:

• The Rules of the Road — the official RSA publication covering Irish driving law and best practice. Available at bookshops and downloadable from rsa.ie
• The vehicle you will be using and its controls — sit in the driver's seat of a family member's or friend's car and identify every control before your lesson
• Information on preparing for safety checks — read the RSA's vehicle safety guidance so you understand tyre checks, fluid levels, and lights before your ADI asks you about them

You should also have practised, with your ADI, Sponsor, or both:

• Using the vehicle's primary controls such as the steering wheel and brakes
• Using secondary controls such as windscreen wipers and lights
• Driving in quiet and safe conditions
• Some basic manoeuvres such as starting and stopping

What Happens at the Start of Your First Session

Your first EDT session has a specific structure. At the start of Session 1 your ADI will:

Primary Controls — The Full RSA List

Primary controls are the controls that directly operate the vehicle's movement. The RSA EDT syllabus requires you to know the location and function of the following primary controls and be able to demonstrate you know how to use them:

Footbrake

The footbrake slows and stops the vehicle. It is operated by your right foot only — never your left. Correct technique is progressive braking: apply gentle initial pressure that increases smoothly as the vehicle slows, and release gently as you reach a stop. Stabbing the brake suddenly creates discomfort for passengers, can cause the car to pitch forward, and in wet conditions can cause skidding. The footbrake acts on all four wheels.

On the driving test, smooth, progressive braking is specifically assessed. Harsh or sudden braking when it was avoidable — which indicates poor anticipation — can be recorded as a fault.

Handbrake (Parking Brake)

The handbrake holds the car stationary when parked and is also used during hill starts to prevent rolling backwards when moving off on a slope. It typically operates on the rear wheels only, which is why it must never be applied at speed — locking the rear wheels at speed causes the car to skid sideways dangerously. The handbrake must always be applied when you leave the car and must be fully applied (not halfway) when the car is parked on a hill.

Modern cars increasingly use an electronic parking brake (EPB) — a button rather than a lever. The function is identical; your ADI will show you how your specific car's handbrake operates.

Steering

The steering wheel controls the direction of travel. The RSA-approved technique for learner drivers is the push-pull (feeding) method, with hands held at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions as the starting point. To steer left, push up with the left hand while the right hand slides down, then grip and continue if more lock is needed. To steer right, push up with the right hand while the left slides down.

Hands should never cross over the top of the steering wheel — this reduces control and is dangerous if the airbag deploys. Never allow the wheel to spin freely back to centre — always feed it back under your hands. On the driving test, one-handed steering at speed, crossing hands, and letting the wheel spin are all recorded as faults.

Gears

In a manual car, gears are arranged in an H-pattern and you must know the location of each gear, including reverse, before Session 2. First gear is for moving off from rest and slow-speed manoeuvres. Second through fifth (or sixth) gears are for progressively higher speeds on the road. Reverse is used for reversing manoeuvres and must be selected only when the car is stationary. In automatic cars, the selector positions are P (Park), R (Reverse), N (Neutral), and D (Drive). Always check your specific car's gear layout, as reverse position varies between models.

Accelerator

The accelerator controls engine speed and the vehicle's acceleration. It is operated by the right foot only. Smooth, progressive application is correct — gentle pressure to build speed, gradual release to slow down. In a manual car, never press the accelerator while the clutch is also pressed fully to the floor for extended periods (this wastes fuel by revving the engine in neutral). Never simultaneously press the accelerator and the footbrake.

Clutch (Manual Cars Only)

The clutch disengages the engine from the gearbox, allowing gear changes. It is operated by the left foot only and must be fully depressed (pressed all the way to the floor) before any gear change. Releasing the clutch smoothly and progressively after a gear change is one of the core skills developed in Sessions 2 onwards. The biting point is the position at which the clutch plates begin to connect — you will feel the engine note change and the car nose want to move forward. Never rest your foot on the clutch while driving (this is called "riding the clutch" and causes premature wear).

In an automatic car there is no clutch pedal — gear changes happen automatically. This removes the steepest early learning challenge and allows automatic EDT learners to focus on positioning, observation, and road awareness from Lesson 1 onward.

Secondary Controls — The Full RSA List

Secondary controls are essential for safe vehicle operation but do not directly drive the vehicle. The RSA EDT syllabus requires you to know the location and correct use of all secondary controls listed below.

Windscreen Wipers and Washers

The wiper stalk (usually on the right-hand side of the steering column) controls intermittent, slow, and fast wiper speeds, plus the washer jet function. You must know how to activate each setting without looking down. Wipers must be in good condition — check that they do not smear or streak, and that the rubber blade is not cracked or split. The windscreen washer reservoir should be kept filled with washer fluid (not plain water, as it freezes in winter). Activating the washers while moving uses a spray and usually a few wiper sweeps automatically.

Lights and Reflectors

You must be able to locate and correctly activate every light setting. The key lights every driver must understand:

• Sidelights: Low-intensity lights for parking or use in twilight. Not sufficient for night driving.
• Dipped headlights: The correct lights for night driving and poor visibility. Angle downward so as not to dazzle oncoming traffic.
• Full beam (main beam): High-intensity lights for unlit country roads. Must be switched off when oncoming vehicles approach, or when following another vehicle. Do not use in fog — the reflection blinds you.
• Rear fog lights: Single red light activated only when visibility is below 100 metres. Switch off when visibility improves — they dazzle drivers behind you.
• Hazard warning lights: All four indicators flash simultaneously. Used when broken down, causing an obstruction, or warning traffic of a hazard ahead (e.g. at the scene of a collision). Not for parking on double yellow lines.
• Reversing lights: Automatically activate when reverse gear is selected. White lights at the rear alerting pedestrians and other drivers.

Brake lights activate automatically when you press the footbrake. Indicators are on the left-hand stalk — push up for right, push down for left. All lights and reflectors must be clean, unbroken, and functioning for the vehicle to be roadworthy.

Horn

The horn is located at the centre of the steering wheel. It is used to warn other road users of your presence in situations where they may not have seen you — for example, a pedestrian stepping out without looking, or a vehicle pulling out of a junction in front of you. It is not a tool for expressing frustration and must not be used in a way that causes unnecessary noise. Under Irish law, you must not sound the horn when stationary in a built-up area between 11pm and 7am except in genuine emergency.

Front and Rear Demisters

The front demister uses the car's heating and ventilation system to clear mist from the windscreen. The rear demister uses a heated element embedded in the rear window glass — activated by a button on the dashboard (a rectangle with wavy horizontal lines symbol). Both demisters should be turned off once the screen is clear — leaving them running wastes fuel and electricity, and the rear element generates heat that can be uncomfortable for rear-seat passengers on warm days.

Windows, Doors and Locks

All doors must be fully closed before moving off — a door ajar warning light on the dashboard will alert you if any door is not latched. You must be able to operate all windows (including in an emergency exit), all door locks, and child locks on rear doors. Child locks, when engaged, prevent rear doors from being opened from inside — essential for transporting young children but you must know how to release them.

Dashboard Instruments and Warning Lights

Your ADI will also introduce you to the key dashboard instruments and warning lights during Session 1. While the full range of instruments varies between vehicles, the following are universal and must be understood before you drive:

Instrument / Light	Colour	What It Means	Action Required
Speedometer	—	Current speed in km/h	Monitor continuously; keep within speed limits
Rev counter (RPM)	—	Engine speed in revolutions per minute	Change up around 2,000–2,500 RPM; change down when labouring
Fuel gauge	Amber warning	Fuel level; amber = low	Refuel promptly when warning activates
Temperature gauge	Red = hot	Engine coolant temperature	If red zone reached: stop safely, engine off, do not open radiator cap
Oil pressure light	Red	Oil pressure too low — serious engine risk	Stop safely as soon as possible. Do not continue driving
Engine warning light	Amber	Engine management fault detected	Have vehicle checked by a mechanic promptly
Battery warning	Red	Charging system fault	Do not continue driving; seek assistance
Brake warning	Red	Handbrake on, or brake fluid low	First check handbrake is released; if still on, stop and seek help
Airbag light	Amber	Airbag system fault	Have checked — airbag may not deploy in a collision
Door ajar	Amber/red	A door is not fully closed	Stop safely and ensure all doors are properly latched
Seatbelt reminder	Red	Driver or passenger seatbelt not fastened	Ensure all occupants are belted before moving

This table covers the most important warning lights. Your specific vehicle may have additional indicators — your ADI will highlight any that are relevant to the car you are learning in. The key rule: a red warning light while driving means stop and investigate. An amber warning light means have it checked soon but you can generally continue with caution.

Vehicle Safety Checks — Full Walkthrough

The RSA requires that by the end of Session 1 you can explain what routine safety checks should be performed on a vehicle and demonstrate how to carry them out. These same checks form the basis of the pre-drive questions asked by RSA testers at the start of every driving test. Getting them right here means you will be well prepared when the examiner asks you in the test car.

Roadworthiness — Legal Consequences

The RSA requires that by the end of Session 1 you understand the safety and legal consequences of driving a vehicle that is not roadworthy. This is not just theoretical knowledge — it is directly tested in the pre-drive vehicle questions on the RSA driving test, where an examiner may ask you to explain why a given check is important or what you would do if a warning light was on.

A vehicle is considered not roadworthy if any of the following apply:

• Tyres below the legal minimum tread depth of 1.6mm, or visibly damaged
• Any exterior light not functioning correctly
• Brakes not functioning safely (brake warning light on with no other explanation)
• Cracked or damaged windscreen in the driver's field of view
• Steering that is stiff, loose, or unpredictable
• Fluid leaks (oil, coolant, brake fluid) that compromise safe operation
• Mirrors missing, cracked, or unable to be adjusted
• Expired NCT (for vehicles over 4 years old)
• Expired motor tax

Environmental Impact — Positive Use of Controls

The RSA also requires that by the end of Session 1 you can explain the positive environmental impact of proper use of primary and secondary controls. This reflects the RSA's broader commitment to eco-driving awareness from the very first lesson. Key points:

• Smooth accelerator use reduces fuel consumption — harsh acceleration burns significantly more fuel than gradual, progressive acceleration
• Correct tyre pressure reduces rolling resistance, improving fuel economy and reducing CO₂ emissions
• Engine braking (using gear changes to slow down rather than relying solely on the footbrake) reduces brake wear and fuel consumption
• Switching off demisters and other electrical loads when not needed reduces the demand on the alternator and improves fuel efficiency
• Turning off the engine when stationary for more than a minute (where safe to do so) prevents unnecessary idling emissions

These eco-driving principles are not just environmentally beneficial — smooth, efficient driving also tends to be safer driving. Harsh acceleration and braking are associated with less forward planning and reduced situational awareness, which are key driving test fault areas.

Expected Outcomes by End of Session 1

Common Mistakes in Session 1

Even though Session 1 doesn't involve driving in traffic, there are recurring errors that learners make. Being aware of them in advance means you can avoid them:

• Not reading the Rules of the Road before the session. Learners who arrive without any preparation take significantly longer to absorb the controls information. Even an hour of reading the RSA Rules of the Road beforehand makes a real difference.
• Confusing primary and secondary controls. In the moment, it is easy to blank on which category a specific control belongs to. Revise the RSA lists before the session.
• Not having the correct documents. Arriving without a valid learner permit, or providing a vehicle without insurance or NCT, may mean the session cannot go ahead.
• Trying to remember tyre pressure from memory. Tyre pressures vary significantly between vehicles. Your ADI will ask where to find the correct pressure for your specific car — the answer is the door sticker or owner's manual, not a general figure.
• Confusing full beam and dipped headlights. Knowing when each should be used is part of the lights knowledge assessed in Session 1.
• Not knowing how to locate the oil dipstick or coolant reservoir. These vary significantly between cars. Spend ten minutes under the bonnet of the car you will be using before your lesson.

What Comes Next — EDT Session 2

After Session 1, the next step in the EDT programme is Session 2 — Correct Positioning 1. This is where you begin driving on public roads for the first time, focusing on correct lateral positioning — staying approximately 1 metre from the left kerb, positioning for turns, and correct lane discipline at roundabouts and junctions. Session 2 takes place in light traffic situations.

Between Session 1 and Session 2, the RSA recommends at least three hours of supervised practice with your Sponsor — specifically practising correct road positioning. Your ADI will advise at the end of Session 1 exactly what to focus on.