EDT Session 2 — Correct Positioning 1

EDT Session 2 — Correct Positioning 1 — is your first real encounter with the road. After Session 1 taught you the car's controls, Session 2 puts you in moving traffic for the first time and focuses on a single fundamental skill: being in the right place on the road at the right time. Poor road positioning is one of the most consistently recorded fault categories on the RSA driving test. Master it in Session 2 and it becomes a strength rather than a weakness.

What Is EDT Session 2?

EDT Session 2 is titled "Correct Positioning 1" in the official RSA EDT syllabus. It is the first session that takes place on public roads in actual traffic — a significant step from Session 1, which was purely vehicle familiarisation. Session 2 occurs in light traffic situations, giving you enough space to focus on positioning without the added pressure of heavy or fast-moving traffic. That comes later in Sessions 5 and 8.

Sessions 2 through 8 can be taken in any order after Session 1 is complete. However, Session 2 is the logical next step because correct road positioning is the foundation everything else is built on — observation, direction changes, speed management, and hazard response all depend on being in the right place on the road in the first place.

RSA Objective and Minimum Content for Session 2

The RSA states clearly that during Session 2, your ADI must make sure that you can position the car correctly on the road for the actions you are about to take. Actions covered in this session include:

• Driving on the straight
• Cornering and negotiating bends
• Negotiating junctions (approaching and emerging)
• Changing lanes
• Entering and exiting from slip roads
• Entering and exiting roundabouts
• Correct positioning within traffic lanes

Your ADI will choose routes that give you maximum opportunity to practise positioning in a variety of situations within light traffic. You should drive in light traffic situations for the entire session — not motorways, not busy dual carriageways, not complex multi-lane junctions. Those come in later sessions.

Why Road Positioning Matters

Road positioning is not simply about being in the right lane. It is about using your position on the road as a communication tool — your position tells other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians what you are about to do before you do it. A car moving toward the centre line on a single-lane road signals an upcoming right turn. A car keeping close to the left on approach to a junction signals an upcoming left turn. Good positioning makes your intentions predictable and reduces the risk of conflict with other road users.

Poor positioning, by contrast, creates ambiguity and danger. A driver who turns left from the centre of the lane confuses following traffic. A driver who approaches a roundabout in the wrong lane disrupts traffic flow and can cause collisions. The RSA's emphasis on correct positioning from Session 2 onwards reflects the reality that positioning errors are one of the most consistent causes of both RSA driving test failures and real-world collisions among newly qualified drivers.

There is also a comfort dimension: a car in the correct lateral position has the maximum available space on both sides. A car drifting too close to the kerb has no margin for error on the left. A car drifting too close to the centre line risks head-on contact with oncoming traffic. Good positioning keeps margins on both sides and reduces the physical demands of the drive.

Normal Road Position — The 1 Metre Rule

On a standard single-lane road in Ireland, the correct normal road position is approximately 1 metre from the left kerb. This is not an exact measurement — it is a guideline that describes a position that is:

• Far enough from the kerb to avoid drains, potholes, the door-opening zone of parked cars, cyclists, and pedestrians stepping off the path
• Well clear of the centre line, leaving sufficient margin in case of oncoming traffic that drifts slightly wide
• Central enough within your lane that your road position communicates no intended turn to vehicles behind you

In practice, "approximately 1 metre" means your left wing mirror should be roughly above the painted edge line where one exists, or about one car-door width away from the kerb. Your ADI will help you develop the visual reference points from inside the car that tell you when you are correctly positioned — these reference points vary between vehicles, which is why it is important to learn positioning in the car you will be tested in.

Positioning on the Straight

On a straight road with no hazards ahead, maintain your normal position approximately 1 metre from the left kerb. Keep your eyes looking well ahead — not directly in front of the bonnet — and use peripheral vision to maintain your distance from the kerb. Drivers who look only a few metres ahead tend to weave, constantly making small corrections. Looking further ahead allows you to see deviations early and make smooth, gradual adjustments rather than sharp corrections.

On roads with on-street parking, your position may need to adjust slightly — leave enough space from parked cars that an opening door would not hit you. At speeds up to 50 km/h, this typically means giving parked cars at least 1 metre of clearance, moving you slightly further from the kerb than your normal position.

Cornering and Bends

On bends, correct positioning keeps you safely within your lane and prevents the car from drifting into the oncoming lane on left-hand bends, or into the kerb on right-hand bends. The key principles are:

Positioning for a Left Turn

Correct approach positioning for a left turn is one of the most commonly tested and most commonly faulted elements of the RSA driving test. The full sequence, which your ADI will walk you through in Session 2:

Positioning for a Right Turn

A right turn requires a more significant position change than a left turn — you need to move from your normal left-hand position to the centre of the road before turning. This must be done progressively and well in advance, not at the last moment:

Approaching and Emerging from Junctions

Session 2 introduces junction positioning — the specific road position you should be in before you reach a junction and after you emerge from one. Observation at junctions is not covered until Session 3 (Changing Direction 1), but positioning must be correct before the observation can be effective.

Approaching a Junction

Your position on approach signals your intention. Key rules:

• If turning left: approach close to the left, well clear of the centre
• If turning right: approach at the centre of the road, just left of the centre line
• If going straight ahead: maintain normal position in the left of the lane, do not drift right
• Begin your approach position change early — not 5 metres before the junction, but progressively from at least 50–100 metres out

Emerging from a Junction

When pulling out of a side road onto a main road, your position in the side road before emerging is critical. You should be positioned close to the left if turning left, or at the centre if turning right. After emerging:

• Move to your correct lane immediately and smoothly
• Do not wander across lanes after emerging — your finishing position should be decided before you begin the turn
• After turning left, finish in the left lane. After turning right, finish in the left lane

Positioning at Roundabouts

Roundabouts are one of the most significant sources of driving test failures in North Dublin — particularly at the busy roundabouts on the Finglas test routes. Correct positioning approaching, on, and exiting a roundabout is assessed in both Session 2 and the more advanced Session 5. The key rules for Session 2:

Left Turn at a Roundabout (1st Exit)

Approach in the left lane. Signal left before entering. Keep to the left throughout. Exit at the first exit still in the left lane. This is the simplest roundabout movement and should be mastered in Session 2.

Straight Ahead at a Roundabout (2nd Exit)

Approach in the left lane. No signal on entry (you are not turning right). Keep to the left inside the roundabout. Signal left as you pass the exit immediately before the one you intend to take. Exit in the left lane. This is the most common roundabout movement and also one of the most commonly faulted on the driving test.

Right Turn at a Roundabout (3rd Exit or beyond)

Where a right lane is available, approach in the right lane. Signal right on entry. Keep to the right (inner lane) until you pass the exit before your intended exit, then signal left and move to the left lane to exit. This is introduced in Session 2 but developed further in Sessions 5 and 9 in more complex roundabout scenarios.

Changing Lanes

Changing lanes safely requires your position in the new lane to be correct before, during, and after the change — not just during the brief transition. Session 2 introduces lane changing in light traffic, where the basics can be practised without the pressure of high-speed multi-lane roads (those come in Sessions 9 and 10).

The key principles of a lane change:

• Check mirrors first — interior mirror, then the door mirror of the side you are moving toward
• Check the blind spot — physically look over your shoulder in the direction you are moving. A mirror check alone is not sufficient
• Signal — indicate before you begin to move, not as you are already moving
• Move gradually — steer smoothly into the new lane, do not dart across
• Establish your position — once in the new lane, maintain the correct lateral position within it — approximately 1 metre from the left kerb if moving to the left lane

Slip Roads — Entering and Exiting

Slip roads are the acceleration and deceleration lanes that connect minor roads or roundabouts to faster main roads. Session 2 introduces the basics of slip road positioning, which is developed further in Sessions 9 and 10. Key principles:

Entering via a Slip Road (Merging)

Use the full length of the acceleration lane to build speed to match the main carriageway before merging. Signal right. Check mirrors and blind spot. Merge smoothly into the left lane of the main carriageway — do not stop at the end of the acceleration lane unless traffic makes it unavoidable. Position yourself in the left lane and do not move to the outer lane immediately after merging.

Exiting via a Slip Road (Diverging)

Move to the left lane well in advance of the slip road — at least 500 metres on a fast road, indicated by countdown markers (three bars, then two bars, then one bar before the exit). Signal left. Decelerate using the deceleration lane, not the main carriageway. Exit at a safe speed for the new road.

Safe Braking Distance — Always Maintain a Gap

Correct road positioning includes your longitudinal position relative to the vehicle ahead — your following distance. Session 2's learning outcomes specifically require that you always keep a safe braking distance from other vehicles. The RSA recommends the two-second rule as a minimum in dry conditions:

At 50 km/h, a two-second gap is approximately 28 metres — roughly 6 car lengths. At 100 km/h, it is approximately 56 metres — roughly 14 car lengths. Most learner drivers are shocked by how much space this actually requires in practice.

Driving too close to the vehicle ahead — tailgating — is faultable on the RSA driving test and is one of the leading causes of rear-end collisions in Ireland. Maintaining adequate following distance is not timid or slow — it is a fundamental element of road safety that every competent driver applies consistently.

Common Positioning Faults on the RSA Driving Test

Based on the most frequently recorded test faults at Finglas, Raheny, and Killester test centres in North Dublin, these are the positioning errors most likely to fail you:

Positioning Fault	Where It Happens	How to Fix It
Drifting too close to the left kerb	Straight roads, particularly when nervous or when oncoming traffic is present	Pick a visual reference point on the bonnet that aligns with the correct position and use it consistently. Your ADI will show you the specific reference for your car.
Too close to the centre line	Straight roads, after overtaking a parked vehicle	After passing an obstacle, consciously move back to the left. Check your mirror before moving back to confirm the lane is clear.
Wrong lane approaching a roundabout	Multi-lane roundabout approaches	Know which exit you are taking before you approach. Decide your lane at least 50 metres before the roundabout. Practise the test route roundabouts specifically with your ADI.
Swinging right before a left turn	Left turns at junctions and into driveways	Do not "set up" the turn by moving right first. Begin the turn from your normal left position. The steering wheel provides all the lock you need.
Finishing right after a turn	After turning left or right	Consciously decide your finishing lane before turning and aim for it. The left lane after any turn is your default finishing position.
Drifting into bus lanes	Urban roads with bus lanes, particularly on North Dublin routes	Know where bus lanes are on your test route and at what times they are operational. Outside operational hours, bus lanes may be used by general traffic.
Insufficient following distance	Any road in traffic	Consciously apply the two-second rule from Session 2 onwards and make it a permanent habit. Your ADI will observe your following distance throughout every session.

How to Prepare for Session 2

The RSA recommends at least three hours of supervised practice specifically on road positioning between Session 1 and Session 2. To prepare effectively:

• Read the Rules of the Road sections on correct positioning and lane discipline. The RSA publication covers positioning rules for every road type and situation. Available free at rsa.ie and in bookshops.
• Sit in the passenger seat during journeys and observe how experienced drivers position the car on different road types — on the straight, approaching junctions, at roundabouts. Notice where the experienced driver's visual reference points appear to be.
• Practise in a quiet area with your Sponsor — focus on straight-line driving at approximately 1 metre from the kerb without drifting. This sounds simple but requires active attention in the early stages.
• Act on your ADI's Session 1 feedback. Your ADI will have advised at the end of Session 1 what to focus on in preparation for the next session. Follow that advice specifically.

Expected Outcomes by End of Session 2

What Comes Next — EDT Session 3

After Session 2, the natural next step is Session 3 — Changing Direction 1. This is where the RSA formally introduces the MSMM routine (Mirror, Signal, Mirror, Manoeuvre) — the four-step procedure that must be applied every time you change direction, speed, or position. Session 3 focuses on applying MSMM when turning left and right, at roundabouts, and at junctions, in low-risk driving situations such as quiet residential areas and rural roads.

Between Session 2 and Session 3, the RSA recommends at least three hours of positioning practice with your Sponsor — specifically practising the correct approach positions for left and right turns at junctions, and correct lane selection at roundabouts. Your ADI will provide specific feedback at the end of Session 2 on which areas need the most attention.