EDT Session 7 — Sharing the Road

EDT Session 7 — Sharing the Road — takes the hazard awareness developed in Session 6 and applies it directly to interactions with other road users. This is the session that teaches you not just how to avoid other road users as hazards, but how to actively co-operate with them — giving way correctly, passing safely, dealing with emergencies, and parking in ways that do not put others at risk. The road is shared space, and Session 7 is where that principle becomes concrete driving practice.

What Is EDT Session 7?

EDT Session 7 is titled "Sharing the Road" in the official RSA EDT syllabus. It focuses on driving with due care and attention for road and traffic conditions, with specific emphasis on how to interact safely and correctly with every category of road user you will encounter — pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, large vehicles, and emergency services.

If Session 6 was about identifying hazards in the road environment, Session 7 is about navigating a complex social environment on the road — one with established rules, expectations, and courtesies that every road user relies on. A driver who understands road sharing does not merely avoid other users as obstacles; they actively accommodate them, communicate intentions clearly, and behave predictably in a way that reduces risk for everyone.

Session 7 also differs from earlier sessions in one important respect: it requires you to drive in streets with substantial numbers of pedestrians to generate significant real interaction with them. This is not a quiet residential area session — it involves genuine urban traffic with all the complexity that entails.

RSA Objective and Minimum Content for Session 7

The RSA states that during Session 7, your ADI must make sure that you can drive with due care and attention for the road and traffic conditions. This includes taking appropriate actions when you identify hazards.

To achieve the session objectives, your ADI should take you driving in a variety of road conditions including:

• Junctions
• Streets with parked cars
• Streets with substantial numbers of pedestrians

You should also drive so that you have significant interaction with other road users and know how and when to give way to them. Your ADI should also require you to deal with emergency vehicles when the opportunity arises during the session.

Who You Share the Road With

Irish roads are shared by a diverse range of users, each with different speeds, vulnerabilities, rights, and needs. Competent road sharing requires understanding each category and the specific considerations that apply to them.

Entering, Crossing and Joining Roads Safely

The RSA's first expected outcome for Session 7 is that you can enter, cross, and join roads safely. This covers three distinct manoeuvre types that all involve your vehicle transitioning between road spaces.

Entering a Road (From a Side Road or Driveway)

When entering a main road from a side road, give-way line, or driveway, the full sequence required is:

Crossing a Road (Turning Right Across Oncoming Traffic)

Turning right across oncoming traffic is the highest-risk common manoeuvre in everyday driving — it requires you to cross the path of vehicles approaching from your right. The specific risks in Session 7 context:

• A gap that looks safe may not be — oncoming vehicles may be travelling faster than they appear at distance
• A vehicle that slows to let you cross may obscure a motorcyclist or cyclist who is overtaking them
• Pedestrians may be crossing the road you are turning into just as you commit to turning

Joining a Road (Merging from a Slip Road)

Merging from a slip road onto a main carriageway requires building speed to match traffic before merging — not stopping at the end of the slip road. The merge itself requires MSMM (right mirror check specifically), a right shoulder blind spot check, and smooth steering into the left lane. After merging, establish correct road position and speed promptly.

Right of Way — When and How to Give Way

Irish road law does not give any road user an absolute, unconditional right of way in every situation. Even on a main road, if giving way is necessary to prevent a collision, you must give way regardless of who has theoretical priority. That said, the established conventions and legal requirements for giving way in common situations are clear and must be understood thoroughly for Session 7.

Passing Stationary and Slow-Moving Vehicles

Passing stationary and slow-moving vehicles — whether parked delivery vans, buses at stops, or vehicles that have broken down — is one of the most frequent road-sharing interactions in urban driving. The required sequence:

If oncoming traffic prevents you from passing safely, wait behind the stationary vehicle until a gap in oncoming traffic allows a safe pass. Do not attempt to squeeze past with insufficient clearance on either side.

Passing Cyclists Safely — The 1 Metre Rule

Cyclists are among the most vulnerable road users and require specific care when being passed. The RSA and Irish road safety authorities recommend specific clearance distances that reflect the risks involved:

Additional rules for passing cyclists that every Session 7 learner must understand:

• Do not cut back in sharply. After passing a cyclist, maintain your passing position for a short distance before returning to the left. Cutting back in front of the cyclist immediately after passing forces them to brake or swerve.
• Slow down before passing. Passing a cyclist at high speed creates a pressure wave that can unsettle them. Reduce speed before passing, then resume road speed after you have cleared them.
• Never pass a cyclist at a junction. If you are turning left and a cyclist is alongside your left or approaching from behind, wait for them to pass before making your turn. Turning left across a cyclist's path is a serious collision risk.
• Cyclists in primary position: Cyclists are legally entitled to ride in the centre of the lane (called "primary position") on narrow roads or when approaching junctions. This is done for their safety — it discourages unsafe overtaking. If a cyclist is in primary position, wait behind them until the road conditions allow a safe pass.
• Advanced Stop Lines (cycle boxes): At traffic lights, many junctions have a green box in front of the stop line for cyclists. You must stop behind the stop line, not inside the cycle box, even if the lights change while you are crossing it.

Motorcyclists

Motorcyclists share many of the same vulnerabilities as cyclists but add significant speed differentials. Specific considerations when sharing the road with motorcyclists:

• Filtering: Motorcyclists are legally permitted to filter through slow-moving or stationary traffic. When you are stationary at traffic lights or in a queue, check your left mirror before opening your door or moving off — a motorcyclist may be filtering on your left.
• Speed perception: Motorcycles are narrow and their speed is difficult to judge at distance. A motorcycle that appears to be far away may reach you much sooner than expected. Apply extra caution when judging gaps for right turns across oncoming motorcyclists.
• Lane changes: Always perform a blind spot check before any lane change. A motorcyclist in your blind spot is entirely invisible in all mirrors but may be alongside you within arm's reach.
• Bad weather: Motorcyclists are significantly more affected by bad weather than car drivers — particularly crosswinds, rain, and low-visibility conditions. In adverse weather, expect motorcyclists to be riding more cautiously and give them extra space.

Large Vehicles — Trucks, Buses and Coaches

Large vehicles — HGVs, articulated lorries, buses, and coaches — require specific awareness due to their size, weight, and turning characteristics.

Blind Spots on Large Vehicles

Large vehicles have significant blind spots on all four sides. The most dangerous is the nearside (left side) blind spot — a zone extending the full length of the truck on the left side that neither the driver nor their mirrors can see. Never position your car or cycle in this zone alongside a large vehicle, particularly when approaching a junction where the vehicle may be turning left.

Left Turns by Large Vehicles

When a large vehicle turns left, its rear wheels cut significantly inside its front wheels — this is called "off-tracking." A truck that appears to be turning left will swing its rear into spaces that look safe from the driver's perspective. Never try to pass a large vehicle on its left when it is turning or signalling left. The gap closes quickly and the consequences are severe.

Following Distance Behind Large Vehicles

When following a large vehicle, maintain a greater following distance than normal — at least 4 seconds in dry conditions. This gives you visibility of the road ahead beyond the vehicle, and time to respond to sudden braking. Large vehicles take significantly longer to stop than cars due to their weight and momentum.

Giving Way to Buses

Where a bus stop is marked with a yellow bus priority sign showing a bus with an arrow, you must give way to buses re-entering traffic from that stop. This is a legal requirement under Irish road traffic law. Signal your intention by reducing speed and flashing your headlights (once, briefly) to indicate you are yielding.

Giving Way to Pedestrians

Session 7 specifically requires that you know when and how to give way to pedestrians. Pedestrians have legal right of way in the following situations, all of which you will encounter in Session 7:

• At zebra crossings: As soon as a pedestrian steps onto the crossing, you must stop. Overtaking a vehicle that has stopped at a zebra crossing is illegal and dangerous — the stopped vehicle may be hiding a pedestrian who is already on the crossing.
• At pelican/toucan crossings showing red: You must stop. On the flashing amber phase, you must give way to any pedestrian still crossing.
• When turning into a road: If a pedestrian is crossing the road you are turning into, they have priority — even if no formal crossing exists. You must wait for them to clear before completing your turn.
• In pedestrian priority zones: Some urban areas have pedestrian-priority zones or shared spaces where pedestrians have full right of way. Proceed at very low speed (under 10 km/h) and be prepared to stop at any moment.
• When reversing: Pedestrians have priority over reversing vehicles in all situations.

In addition to the legal requirements, the RSA expects you to exercise courtesy and good judgement when pedestrians are present. If a pedestrian is clearly waiting to cross a road and it is safe to stop for them, doing so demonstrates the considerate driving behaviour that Session 7 aims to develop.

Parking Safely With Other Road Users Present

The RSA's expected outcomes for Session 7 include knowing how to park safely on roads where there are other road users. This extends the parking skills from Session 5 into the specific context of roads with active traffic and pedestrians.

Before Parking

• Apply MSMM — check mirrors, signal left, check mirrors again before pulling in
• Check for cyclists in your left mirror before signalling — a cyclist may be directly alongside your left and would be cut off by your signal and movement to the left
• Check for pedestrians on the footpath where you intend to park — they may be stepping off the kerb
• Confirm the parking location is legal — not within 15 metres of a junction, not on double yellow lines, not at a hydrant or pedestrian crossing, not blocking a driveway

When Parked

• Before opening the door, check the left door mirror for approaching cyclists, motorcyclists, and other vehicles — "dooring" a cyclist is a serious road traffic offence and can cause fatal injuries
• If passengers are exiting on the left side, instruct them to check for cyclists before opening the door
• Apply the handbrake and select neutral (manual) or P (automatic) before all occupants exit

When Pulling Away from a Parked Position

• Full MSMM plus right shoulder blind spot check (as covered in Session 3)
• Check for pedestrians on the footpath who might step off the kerb as you move
• Signal right early enough for following traffic to see the signal and begin adjusting speed
• Wait until the road is completely clear before moving — do not creep forward while waiting for a gap

Dealing with Emergency Vehicles

Dealing correctly with emergency vehicles is a specific named requirement of Session 7, and the RSA states that your ADI should require you to deal with emergency vehicles when the opportunity arises during the session. If no opportunity arises, your ADI should question you about the correct response.

Emergency vehicles using blue lights and/or sirens are responding to an emergency and have specific legal provisions to proceed through junctions against signals, on the wrong side of the road, and at speeds above the speed limit. Your obligation as a driver is to facilitate their passage safely and promptly.

The Correct Sequence When an Emergency Vehicle Approaches

Road Courtesy and Etiquette

Beyond the legal requirements, road sharing involves a set of courtesies and conventions that, while not legally mandated, make the shared road environment safer and less stressful for everyone. These are not assessed in isolation on the RSA driving test, but they underpin the "due care and attention" requirement that Session 7 is built around.

• Flashing headlights to yield: A single, brief flash of headlights conventionally means "I am giving way to you — proceed." Never use headlights to intimidate or as a demand for right of way.
• Acknowledging courtesy: When another driver yields to you unexpectedly, a brief raised hand is conventional acknowledgement. While not legally required, it reinforces positive behaviour.
• Narrow roads: On narrow rural roads where two vehicles cannot pass simultaneously, the vehicle travelling uphill generally has priority (they have less manoeuvring flexibility). The vehicle nearest to a passing place should reverse to it.
• Merging in turn: When two lanes merge into one (at a lane closure or roadworks), drivers should alternate — one vehicle from each lane in turn. Aggressive "queue cutting" creates the very congestion it appears to avoid.
• Not blocking junctions: Never enter a junction or a yellow box if you cannot clear it. Blocking a junction stops cross-traffic even when it has a green light — this is both illegal and extremely disruptive.

Common Faults on the RSA Driving Test in Session 7 Areas

Road sharing faults at Finglas, Raheny, and Killester test centres are consistently among the most serious recorded — many are directly dangerous to other road users:

Fault	Situation	How to Fix It
Turning left across a cyclist	Left turns at junctions when a cyclist is alongside or approaching	Always check the left door mirror and perform a left shoulder glance before turning left. If a cyclist is alongside, wait for them to clear before turning. Never cut across a cyclist when turning.
Pulling out in front of approaching traffic	Emerging from side roads and driveways	Apply the "safe gap" standard rigorously — one where no vehicle, cyclist, or motorcyclist needs to brake or deviate for you. If you cannot see clearly, creep forward slowly before committing.
Not giving way to a pedestrian when turning	Turning into a road where a pedestrian is crossing	Check specifically for pedestrians crossing the road you are turning into before committing to the turn. Wait for them to clear even if it means waiting through another traffic light cycle.
Not pulling over for an emergency vehicle	When blue lights and sirens are active behind you	Act as soon as you hear or see the emergency vehicle. Check mirrors immediately to locate it, signal left, and pull over smoothly. Practice this response so it becomes automatic.
Stopping in a junction or yellow box	Traffic queues, emergency situations	Never enter a junction or yellow box if you cannot clear it. If traffic stops while you are crossing a junction, stop before the junction exit line, not blocking cross traffic.
Insufficient clearance when passing cyclists	Urban roads with cyclists in the lane	Move progressively to the right before passing — do not wait until you are alongside the cyclist to swerve past. Give at least 1 metre at 50 km/h. If insufficient space exists, wait behind the cyclist.
Not acknowledging a bus priority sign	Bus stops on North Dublin test routes	Learn the bus priority signs on your test route (particularly on routes from Finglas and Raheny test centres). When a bus is signalling to re-enter from a stop with a priority sign, reduce speed and give way.

How to Prepare for Session 7

The RSA recommends at least three hours of supervised practice with your Sponsor between Session 6 and Session 7, specifically practising the hazard anticipation skills from Session 6. For Session 7, the most useful specific preparation includes:

• Read the RSA Rules of the Road sections on pedestrians, cyclists, give-way rules, and emergency vehicles. Available at rsa.ie. These sections cover every road-sharing rule that Session 7 requires in detail.
• Practise giving way decisions with your Sponsor on local roads — at junctions, when following cyclists, and at pedestrian crossings. Discuss what you see, who has priority, and what the correct response is in each situation.
• Discuss how to respond to emergency vehicles at home before you encounter one on the road. Running through the sequence (check mirrors, signal left, pull over, stop, wait) in advance means you will apply it automatically when it matters.
• Act on your Session 6 feedback. If your ADI identified specific hazard awareness or scanning gaps in Session 6, address those before Session 7 adds road-sharing interactions as additional concurrent demands.

Expected Outcomes by End of Session 7

What Comes Next — EDT Session 8

After Session 7, the EDT programme moves to Session 8 — Driving Safely Through Traffic. Session 8 is the final session in the 2–8 block — once it is complete, Sessions 9 through 12 can begin. Session 8 takes everything developed in Sessions 2 through 7 — positioning, MSMM, speed management, manoeuvres, hazard awareness, and road sharing — and applies them in the most demanding environment yet: significant traffic volumes. Session 8 specifically focuses on defensive driving, co-operation with other road users, and making safe, decisive judgements in genuinely busy traffic conditions.

Between Session 7 and Session 8, the RSA recommends at least three hours of supervised practice with your Sponsor — specifically practising driving with due care and attention in situations where there is significant traffic. Your ADI will advise on any specific road sharing areas that need attention based on your performance in Session 7.