EDT — Essential Driver Training — is the mandatory, structured pre-test driving programme introduced by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) of Ireland. Every learner driver must complete 12 one-hour sessions with an RSA-approved driving instructor before sitting the driving test. This is the most comprehensive guide to EDT available in Ireland, based directly on the official RSA syllabus.
In This Guide
- What Is EDT?
- What Is a Competent Driver?
- Who Must Complete EDT?
- The Full Learner Driver Journey
- How Many Sessions Do You Need?
- The Sequencing Rule — Critical
- The MSMM Routine Explained
- All 12 Sessions at a Glance
- Session 1 — Car Controls and Safety Checks
- Session 2 — Correct Positioning 1
- Session 3 — Changing Direction 1
- Session 4 — Progression Management
- Session 5 — Correct Positioning 2
- Session 6 — Anticipation and Reaction
- Session 7 — Sharing the Road
- Session 8 — Driving Safely Through Traffic
- Session 9 — Changing Direction 2
- Session 10 — Speed Management
- Session 11 — Driving Calmly
- Session 12 — Night Driving
- Your Sponsor's Role
- Your Approved Driving Instructor (ADI)
- The EDT Logbook
- Tracking Progress on MyRoadSafety
- How to Pace Your Sessions
- The 6-Month Rule
- Reduced EDT
- EDT in an Automatic Car
- Cost of EDT in Dublin
- What Happens After EDT?
What Is EDT?
EDT stands for Essential Driver Training. It is a 12-hour structured course for learner drivers with permits for category B vehicles — cars and light vans. EDT was introduced by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) of Ireland to replace the previous system in which learners could practise with any accompanying driver and book a driving test with no formal training requirement whatsoever.
The RSA developed EDT from its broader Learner Driver Training (LDT) syllabus, which covers the full range of knowledge, skills, and behaviours a competent driver needs. EDT does not cover the entire LDT syllabus. Instead, it focuses specifically on the driving behaviours that research shows contribute most to collisions and injuries among new and inexperienced drivers. Every single EDT session must be delivered one-to-one by an RSA-approved driving instructor (ADI) who holds a valid ADI permit.
The core insight behind EDT is simple: research consistently shows that young and inexperienced drivers are significantly more likely to be involved in road collisions, and that longer, more structured periods of supervised driving reduce this risk considerably. EDT exists to save lives by ensuring that every new Irish driver has a consistent, evidence-based foundation of driving knowledge and skill before they get a full licence.
Source: RSA Essential Driver Training Learner Driver Information Booklet, Version 2, April 2019, p.3
What Is a Competent Driver?
The RSA defines the goal of EDT clearly: to produce a competent driver. According to the RSA, a competent driver is someone who is able to drive with care and has the knowledge, skills, and attitude to deal with hazards safely. The RSA states that a competent driver should:
- Have good observation skills
- Be considerate to other road users and share the road safely with them
- Exercise self-control and use their own judgement to ensure their safety, the safety of their passengers, and that of other road users
- Understand the consequences of choices between safe and risky driving
- Never take risks on the road or drive aggressively
These qualities are not achieved in 12 hours alone — they are developed progressively over the full EDT programme combined with supervised practice between sessions with a Sponsor, and continued throughout a lifetime of driving. EDT establishes the foundation; your continued practice builds the competence.
Who Must Complete EDT?
You must complete EDT before sitting the RSA driving test if your first category B learner permit is dated on or after 4 April 2011. This applies to the vast majority of learner drivers in Ireland today. The code 991 in the restrictions/information column on your permit indicates this requirement applies to you.
There are some specific exemptions from the full 12-session EDT:
- EU/EEA licence holders — if you hold a full licence from an EU or EEA country (Germany, France, Poland, Romania, Croatia, Lithuania, etc.), you do not need EDT. You can exchange your licence directly at the NDLS.
- Recognised exchange country licence holders — if you hold a full licence from Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, New Zealand, the UK, Switzerland, Gibraltar, Taiwan, or Georgia, you can exchange your licence directly and do not need EDT.
- Reduced EDT applicants — if you hold a full licence from a non-EU country not on the exchange list (such as India, the USA, Brazil, Nigeria, Philippines, Pakistan, China, etc.), you may qualify for Reduced EDT — just 6 sessions instead of 12. See our full guide to Reduced EDT eligibility.
The Full Learner Driver Journey in Ireland
EDT sits at the centre of the learner driver process. Understanding where EDT fits in the full journey helps you plan your learning timeline effectively.
The total journey from booking your theory test to receiving your full licence typically takes between 12 and 18 months for most learners in North Dublin, primarily due to waiting times for RSA driving test appointments at Finglas, Raheny, and Killester test centres. Before you can start EDT, you need your Irish learner permit. Before you can get a learner permit, you must pass the Driver Theory Test.
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You must complete 12 EDT sessions, each lasting at least one hour, with an RSA-approved ADI. Each session must cover the specific topic assigned to that session number in the RSA EDT syllabus — you cannot do two sessions on the same topic or skip a topic. Your instructor logs each completed session electronically to the RSA system immediately after the session, using your learner permit number as the identifier.
The Sequencing Rule — Critical
The RSA is very specific about the order in which EDT sessions must be completed. This is not a recommendation — it is a rule built into the RSA system. Your instructor cannot log Session 9, 10, 11, or 12 until Sessions 2 through 8 are all already recorded.
RSA EDT Session Sequencing — Official Rules
- Session 1 must always be first. No other session can begin until Session 1 (Car Controls and Safety Checks) is logged. This establishes your baseline.
- Sessions 2–8 can be taken in any order after Session 1 is complete. You and your ADI decide the best order based on your progress.
- Sessions 9–12 may not begin until all of Sessions 2–8 are complete. The RSA system enforces this — your instructor cannot log a Session 9 entry until all of Sessions 2 through 8 are already recorded against your permit.
- Sessions 9–12 can be taken in any order among themselves once the above condition is met.
- Session 12 (Night Driving) must take place after dark. This is a specific RSA requirement — the session cannot be completed during daylight hours regardless of weather conditions.
The MSMM Routine — Mirror, Signal, Mirror, Manoeuvre
One of the most important things to understand about the RSA EDT syllabus is that it specifies the MSMM routine — four steps — not the three-step MSM version that is sometimes referenced in older driving guides. MSMM stands for:
The second mirror check
MSMM is formally introduced in Session 3 (Changing Direction 1) and must be applied every time you change direction, speed, or position for the remainder of the EDT programme and on the RSA driving test itself. Failing to apply MSMM consistently is one of the most commonly recorded driving test faults.
All 12 EDT Sessions at a Glance
The following table shows all 12 sessions using their exact official RSA titles as published in the RSA EDT Learner Driver Information Booklet, Version 2, April 2019. Sessions 1–8 are shown in blue; Sessions 9–12 (which require 2–8 to be complete first) are shown in dark blue. Session 12 must take place after dark.
| Session | Official RSA Title | Full Guide |
|---|---|---|
| 1 First | Car Controls and Safety Checks | Read → |
| 2 | Correct Positioning 1 | Read → |
| 3 | Changing Direction 1 | Read → |
| 4 | Progression Management | Read → |
| 5 | Correct Positioning 2 | Read → |
| 6 | Anticipation and Reaction | Read → |
| 7 | Sharing the Road | Read → |
| 8 | Driving Safely Through Traffic | Read → |
| 9 Req. 2–8 | Changing Direction 2 | Read → |
| 10 | Speed Management | Read → |
| 11 | Driving Calmly | Read → |
| 12 After dark | Night Driving | Read → |
Session 1 — Car Controls and Safety Checks
RSA Objective: During your first session your ADI must make sure that you can carry out appropriate pre-start vehicle checks, including checking the roadworthiness of the vehicle, and that you understand the vehicle's primary and secondary controls and know how to use them correctly.
What it covers: Session 1 is about vehicle familiarisation — not about driving in traffic. Your ADI will walk you through all primary controls (footbrake, handbrake/parking brake, steering, gears, accelerator, and clutch where fitted) and all secondary controls (windscreen wipers and washers, lights and reflectors, horn, front and rear demisters, windows, doors and locks). You will learn how to perform a pre-start roadworthiness check — tyres, oil, coolant, washer fluid, lights — and understand the legal and safety consequences of driving a vehicle that is not roadworthy. The session also covers how to plan a journey and where to find journey information.
RSA preparation required: The RSA recommends at least three hours of practice before your first EDT session. You should have already familiarised yourself with the vehicle's controls and practised in quiet conditions with your Sponsor before Session 1. Your ADI will check your learner permit and, if you provide the vehicle, will also check insurance, motor tax, and NCT. You must sign a declaration that these are in order.
You should be able to identify and correctly operate all primary and secondary controls; explain what routine safety checks should be performed on a vehicle and demonstrate how to do them; explain the main reasons a vehicle may not be roadworthy; and explain the positive environmental impact of proper use of controls.
LDT Syllabus References: 1.3, 1.7, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 — Source: RSA EDT Booklet v2, April 2019, pp.8–10
Session 2 — Correct Positioning 1
RSA Objective: During this session your ADI must make sure that you can position the car correctly on the road for the actions you are about to take. This session takes place in light traffic situations.
What it covers: Correct road positioning on the straight, cornering, negotiating bends and junctions, changing lanes, entering and exiting slip roads, entering and exiting junctions and roundabouts, and correct positioning within traffic lanes. Your ADI will take you driving in light traffic situations specifically to give you enough opportunity to practise positioning in a variety of contexts. The key principle is that your road position should always signal your intended next action to other road users — position is communication.
What correct positioning means in practice: On a single-lane road, correct position is approximately 1 metre from the left kerb — far enough from the kerb to avoid drains, debris, and the door-opening zone of parked cars, but well clear of the centre line. On approach to a left turn, move toward the left. On approach to a right turn, move toward the centre of the road. At roundabouts, be in the correct lane at least 50 metres before the roundabout.
You should be able to generally keep a safe position on the road, always keep a safe braking distance from other vehicles, and show appropriate and safe use of available road space.
LDT Syllabus References: 2.6, 3.4, 3.5, 4.6 — Source: RSA EDT Booklet v2, April 2019, pp.11–12
Session 3 — Changing Direction 1
RSA Objective: During this session your ADI must make sure that you use key observational techniques in low-risk driving situations such as quiet residential areas and quiet local and rural roads.
What it covers: Session 3 formally introduces the MSMM (Mirror, Signal, Mirror, Manoeuvre) routine and applies it to changing direction. You will practise MSMM when turning left and right, at roundabouts, and when negotiating junctions. The session also covers basic scanning techniques — how to look ahead and to the sides to detect hazards early — and how to identify and compensate for blind spots. Correct safety glances when moving off, turning, approaching junctions, and negotiating roundabouts are all assessed.
Why two mirror checks? The second mirror check (after signalling) is specifically required because the situation behind you may change between your first check and the moment you carry out the manoeuvre. A vehicle that was not there when you first looked may have appeared in the mirror by the time you signal. The MSMM routine protects against this.
You should be able to use mirrors appropriately; carry out the MSMM routine correctly; perform proper safety glances when moving off, turning, at junctions, and at roundabouts; and show awareness of blind spots and how to compensate for them.
LDT Syllabus References: 1.6, 2.6, 2.7, 3.2, 3.3 — Source: RSA EDT Booklet v2, April 2019, pp.13–14
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Book EDT — €550 WhatsAppSession 4 — Progression Management
RSA Objective: During this session your ADI must make sure that you can regulate and maintain good control over the speed of your vehicle in lower-risk driving situations, such as quiet residential areas, quiet local and rural roads.
What it covers: Controlling speed appropriately, understanding and applying Irish speed limits (50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h on regional roads, 100 km/h on national roads, 120 km/h on motorways), stopping distances at varying speeds, the effects of road and weather conditions on stopping distances, and the specific dangers of driving too fast. The session also covers the environmental impact of excessive speed and harsh braking.
Key insight: The RSA notes that driving too slowly is also a fault — travelling at 35 km/h in a 50 km/h zone when conditions are clear impedes traffic flow and demonstrates a lack of confidence. Speed management means driving at an appropriate speed for the road and conditions — neither excessively fast nor unnecessarily slow.
You should know how to adjust the speed of your vehicle appropriately for speed limits and road layouts; be able to explain the effects of road and weather conditions and a vehicle's load on stopping distances at different speeds; and be able to explain the potential effects of driving too fast and braking too hard on safety and the environment.
LDT Syllabus References: 1.8, 1.9, 2.8, 2.9 — Source: RSA EDT Booklet v2, April 2019, pp.14–15
Session 5 — Correct Positioning 2 (More Complex Situations)
RSA Objective: During this session your ADI must make sure that you can correctly position your vehicle for the action you are about to take in more complex and challenging situations.
What it covers: Session 5 extends the positioning skills from Session 2 into more demanding road conditions. Specifically, this session introduces reversing, performing a turnabout (3-point turn), parking, and stopping in confined spaces — as well as continuing to practise positioning on the straight, at junctions, roundabouts, and during lane changes. Your ADI will take you driving in traffic in a variety of road conditions. Stopping in traffic and stopping in a confined space are specifically required to be covered.
Manoeuvres introduced: The turnabout, reverse around a corner, and bay parking — the three manoeuvres assessed on the RSA driving test — are first covered in this session. Each requires slow, controlled speed combined with full observation in all directions before and throughout the manoeuvre. Common faults include insufficient observation, mounting the kerb, and taking too many moves for the turnabout.
You should be able to consistently maintain a safe position on the road while keeping a safe braking distance, make appropriate and safe use of road sharing, and perform manoeuvres (parking, reversing, and turnabout) in challenging situations.
LDT Syllabus References: 2.6, 3.4, 3.5, 4.6 — Source: RSA EDT Booklet v2, April 2019, pp.16–17
Full guide: Session 5 — Correct Positioning 2 — Complex Situations
Session 6 — Anticipation and Reaction
RSA Objective: During this session your ADI must make sure that you know how to scan the environment for potential hazards and can identify and respond appropriately to potential hazards.
What it covers: Developing the scanning techniques needed to identify and respond to hazards early, before they become emergencies. Your ADI will take you driving in a variety of road conditions specifically designed to expose you to hazards — streets with parked cars (opening doors, pedestrians stepping out), streets with large numbers of pedestrians, roads with multiple warning signs, and roads with poor visibility such as bends with tree cover or hill brows. The session covers hazards associated with: road junctions, blind spots, parked vehicles, crossings (zebra, pelican, toucan), roundabouts, motorcyclists and cyclists, road works, and pedestrians. Where some hazards cannot be encountered while driving, your ADI will question you about them.
Weather and night awareness: Session 6 also covers how driving conditions change in different weather — rain, fog, snow, and darkness. You must be able to explain the effects of each on visibility, stopping distances, and required driving behaviour.
You should be able to use scanning techniques to identify and respond to hazards; take into account potential hazards by choosing the correct speed and gear, keeping a safe distance, and braking correctly; explain the effects of driving at night, in rain, in fog, and in snow; and identify hazards and respond to them in good time.
LDT Syllabus References: 3.3, 4.2 — Source: RSA EDT Booklet v2, April 2019, pp.18–19
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RSA Objective: During this session your ADI must make sure that you can drive with due care and attention for the road and traffic conditions, including taking appropriate actions when you identify hazards.
What it covers: Interacting safely and respectfully with all other road users — cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists, large vehicles (trucks and buses), and emergency vehicles. Your ADI will take you driving on streets with significant pedestrian activity and with parked cars, specifically to generate real interaction with other road users. The session covers: entering, crossing, and joining roads safely; parking safely on roads where there are other road users; passing stationary and slow-moving vehicles, cyclists, and other road users safely; knowing when and how to give way; and how to deal with emergency vehicles (pull over safely to the left, do not mount a kerb, do not stop in a junction).
Cyclist interaction: Give cyclists at least 1 metre of clearance when overtaking at speeds up to 50 km/h, and more at higher speeds. Check mirrors before passing and do not pull back in sharply. Be aware of cyclists in your left blind spot, particularly at junctions and roundabouts.
You should be able to enter, cross, and join roads safely; park safely on roads where there are other road users; pass stationary and slow-moving vehicles, cyclists, and other road users safely and responsibly; know when and how to give way to other road users including pedestrians; and know how to deal with emergency vehicles.
LDT Syllabus References: 2.7, 3.1, 3.4 — Source: RSA EDT Booklet v2, April 2019, pp.20–21
Session 8 — Driving Safely Through Traffic
RSA Objective: During this session your ADI must make sure that you can drive with due care and attention where there is a significant volume of other traffic.
What it covers: Defensive driving techniques in busy, real-world traffic. This session focuses on three things: defensive driving (anticipating what other road users might do before they do it), recognising risks to the safety of others, and co-operating with other road users. Your ADI will take you driving in busy road conditions with significant interaction with other road users. The session specifically requires you to demonstrate that you can act appropriately and decisively without hesitation, while managing actual and potential risks to other road users.
Defensive driving: Defensive driving means always being prepared for the mistakes of others — leaving extra following distance, never assuming another driver will obey right-of-way rules, watching for brake lights well ahead in queues, and avoiding aggressive or reactive responses to other drivers' mistakes.
You should be able to act appropriately and decisively while driving in traffic; describe actual and potential risks to other road users and manage them effectively; demonstrate defensive driving techniques that do not cause hesitation or impede reasonable progress; and demonstrate a good level of co-operation with other road users. This is the final session in the 2–8 block — once Session 8 is logged, Sessions 9 through 12 can begin.
LDT Syllabus References: 3.1, 3.4, 3.5, 4.3 — Source: RSA EDT Booklet v2, April 2019, pp.22–23
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Book Full EDT — €550 Reduced EDT — €290Session 9 — Changing Direction 2 (More Complex Situations)
RSA Objective: During this session your ADI must make sure that you can carry out observational and scanning tasks when turning left and right, negotiate junctions, and change direction in more complex and challenging driving situations. Some of this session should involve you making independent driving decisions and, where available, dual carriageways should be used.
What it covers: Session 9 extends the direction-changing skills from Session 3 to more demanding environments — busier junctions, complex roundabouts, and challenging traffic conditions. A key new element is independent driving: your ADI will ask you to make your own decisions about which route to take, rather than following instructions at every junction. This simulates the driving test condition where you must navigate independently. Where dual carriageways are available, they should be included. The MSMM routine must be applied without prompting at every direction change.
See our detailed guide: How to Drive Through Junctions Safely in Ireland
You should be able to change course safely with due regard for traffic controls; change course safely with due regard for other road users; yield to other road users and progress appropriately; and change course safely using the MSMM routine without prompting.
LDT Syllabus References: 3.1, 3.4, 3.5, 4.3 — Source: RSA EDT Booklet v2, April 2019, pp.24–25
Full guide: Session 9 — Changing Direction 2 — Junctions Guide
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RSA Objective: During this session your ADI must make sure that you can regulate and maintain good control over the speed of the vehicle in more complex or challenging driving situations.
What it covers: Session 10 extends the speed management skills from Session 4 into fast-moving traffic and situations where speeds are highly variable — for example, roads with changing speed limits, dual carriageways, and variable traffic conditions. Some of this session must include independent driving. Your ADI may take you to roads where speeds change frequently (50 km/h to 80 km/h to 100 km/h transitions) and to fast dual carriageways where maintaining appropriate speed and safe following distance in moving traffic is the challenge.
Weather conditions: The session also requires you to be able to describe how to drive safely in fast-moving traffic during different weather conditions — adjusting speed for rain, fog, and low visibility even when traffic around you is moving at the speed limit.
Without prompting from your ADI, you should be able to manage and control speed; drive safely in fast-moving traffic; drive safely where speeds are highly variable; make decisions independently when in challenging situations; and describe how to drive safely in fast-moving traffic during different weather conditions. You should also be able to explain how using the vehicle's main controls and complying with speed limits affects the environment.
LDT Syllabus References: 2.8, 2.9, 3.5, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 — Source: RSA EDT Booklet v2, April 2019, pp.26–27
Session 11 — Driving Calmly
RSA Objective: For most of this session you should be driving independently and making your own decisions. During this session your ADI must make sure that you can remain in calm control of your vehicle in situations where you may be frustrated, exasperated, or feel threatened. Your ADI must also make sure that you understand the fundamentals of being fit to drive and safe loading of vehicles.
What it covers: Session 11 is unique in the EDT programme — it addresses the psychological and physiological aspects of driving. The session covers: dealing with frustrating or aggressive situations without reacting aggressively yourself; recovering calmly if the vehicle stalls or if conditions force you to stop; fitness to drive (the effects of alcohol, drugs, prescribed medication, lack of sleep, sickness, injury, and heightened emotions on driving ability); dealing with peer pressure and distraction from passengers; and safe loading of vehicles.
Driving situations covered: Joining busy main roads, entering junctions while driving independently, simulating stalling and restarting the vehicle, and parking on a road with significant numbers of other parked cars and moderate traffic volumes.
Fitness to drive: You must understand the legal alcohol limit for learner drivers (zero tolerance — 0mg/100ml), the effects of common medications on reaction time and concentration, and the consequences of driving fatigued. You must be able to describe what might cause you to be unfit to drive and what the legal and safety consequences of doing so would be.
You should be able to demonstrate appropriate anticipation of and reactions to other road users; drive safely and independently without hesitation; explain how to deal with peer pressure or distraction; recover promptly and smoothly if the vehicle stalls; and explain what might cause you to be unfit to drive, the effects of those causes, and the legal implications of driving unfit.
LDT Syllabus References: 2.10, 4.1, 4.2, 4.4 — Source: RSA EDT Booklet v2, April 2019, pp.28–30
Session 12 — Night Driving
RSA Objective: During this session your ADI must make sure that you can use your vehicle lighting correctly and respond correctly to the lights of other road users. You should also be able to maintain full control of the vehicle while driving through traffic in the dark or in poor lighting conditions.
What it covers: Session 12 must take place after dark — this is a specific RSA requirement and cannot be substituted with a daytime session regardless of weather. Your ADI will take you driving in a variety of road conditions after dark, including urban and rural roads, with significant interaction with other road users. The session covers: using your vehicle's lighting correctly (dipped headlights vs full beam, when to use fog lights, hazard lights, and reversing lights); responding correctly to the lights of other road users; maintaining full control in dark or poorly lit conditions; and understanding and describing the symptoms of poor night vision and how to deal with it.
Night driving is not motorway driving: There is no motorway session in the RSA EDT programme. Learner permit holders are not permitted on motorways except during EDT sessions with their ADI. If a dual carriageway is available it may be used in Session 9 or 10, but there is no dedicated motorway session in the EDT syllabus.
You should be able to drive safely in the dark; drive safely where road lighting is poor; describe the symptoms of poor night vision and how to deal with it; show you know how to use your vehicle's lighting correctly; and know the appropriate response to other vehicle lighting, including emergency vehicle lighting.
LDT Syllabus References: 2.10, 3.1, 4.2, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6 — Source: RSA EDT Booklet v2, April 2019, pp.31–32
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Book Now WhatsAppYour Sponsor's Role in EDT
A Sponsor is a responsible, fully licensed driver who accompanies you when you practise driving outside of your formal EDT sessions with your ADI. The RSA places enormous emphasis on the Sponsor role — the booklet states explicitly: "To get the most from your driving lessons, you must practise, practise, practise and the best person to do this with is your Sponsor."
Your Sponsor must hold a full driving licence for the relevant vehicle category for at least two years and must accompany you every time you drive on a learner permit. They cannot be paid for this role — the Sponsor must provide their time voluntarily. Your Sponsor should be someone you are comfortable with and who can stay calm under pressure. They do not need to be an ADI, but they must understand and support the work your ADI is doing.
The RSA recommends that your Sponsor:
- Understands and supports the work of your ADI
- Understands the difficulties you face while learning
- Stays calm and patient under pressure
- Demonstrates good driving behaviour themselves
- Appreciates how important their role is
- Takes time to meet your ADI to discuss your progress
Source: RSA EDT Learner Driver Information Booklet, Version 2, April 2019, p.2
Between each EDT session, the RSA recommends at least three hours of practice with your Sponsor on the topics covered in that session. The more you practise with your Sponsor between sessions, the faster you will progress through the EDT programme and the closer you will be to driving test standard when you complete all 12 sessions.
Your Approved Driving Instructor (ADI)
Only instructors who are approved by the RSA can deliver EDT sessions and issue the official logbook. Every ADI holds a valid ADI permit issued by the RSA, is assessed for driving skills, road safety knowledge, and teaching ability, and is Garda-vetted. You can find a current list of RSA-approved ADIs using the ADI search tool on the RSA website at rsa.ie.
You can switch ADI at any point during your EDT — your completed sessions remain logged in the RSA system and are fully portable. However, you should ensure each completed session is signed and stamped in your logbook before making any change. If your ADI is no longer on the ADI register and your sessions have not been uploaded, contact the RSA directly at rsa.ie with your signed logbook for verification.
The EDT Logbook
At your first EDT session, your ADI will give you a personal EDT Logbook — an official RSA document. Your logbook records your progress through each of the 12 sessions. After every session your ADI will sign and stamp the logbook to confirm that session is complete and provide written feedback. Keep your logbook safe and bring it to every session.
If you lose your logbook, you must report the loss to your local Garda station. You will then need to buy a replacement from your ADI. If your completed sessions have been uploaded electronically to the RSA system before the logbook is lost, they remain on your record. If sessions have been signed in the logbook but not yet uploaded, contact the RSA with your Garda loss report reference for assistance.
Your Sponsor can also check your logbook for feedback — the written comments from your ADI after each session help your Sponsor understand what areas to focus on in practice sessions.
Tracking Your EDT Progress on MyRoadSafety
After every EDT session, your ADI submits the completed session electronically to the RSA system. You can track your progress at any time by logging into the MyRoadSafety portal at myroadsafety.rsa.ie using your learner permit number and PPSN. The portal shows:
- Which sessions have been completed and when they were uploaded
- Which sessions you have remaining
- Your learner permit details and expiry date
- Your eligibility to book the driving test once all sessions are logged
How to Pace Your EDT Sessions
The RSA provides specific guidance on pacing that is worth understanding before you begin:
- Leave at least two weeks between sessions — this gives you time to practise the skills from each session with your Sponsor and consolidate them before moving on to the next topic.
- Spread sessions over at least six months — the RSA specifically recommends six months as the minimum spread. This is not a bureaucratic requirement; it reflects the reality that driving skill develops through repeated practice over time, not through cramming sessions close together.
- Practise for at least three hours between sessions — this is the RSA's recommended minimum practice time with your Sponsor between formal EDT sessions.
- Combine formal and informal learning — use a mix of EDT sessions with your ADI, supervised practice with your Sponsor, and study of the Rules of the Road and the RSA's Learning to Drive manual.
Source: RSA EDT Learner Driver Information Booklet, Version 2, April 2019, p.3
The 6-Month Rule
Even after completing all 12 EDT sessions, you cannot sit the RSA driving test until you have held your current learner permit for at least six months. The six months is measured from the "ó/from" date on your permit. This means if you receive your learner permit today and somehow complete all 12 EDT sessions in the next two months, you still cannot book your driving test for another four months.
The six-month rule exists to ensure learner drivers have sufficient supervised driving experience before testing — not just 12 hours of formal EDT, but months of accumulated driving across a variety of conditions. This is why the RSA recommends spreading sessions over the full six months and practising extensively between them.
For learners renewing a permit after the first permit expires: the six-month restriction applies only to your first category B learner permit. Subsequent permits do not restart the six-month clock unless your permit has been expired for five or more years, in which case you must start the entire process again from the beginning including a new Driver Theory Test.
Reduced EDT — 6 Sessions Instead of 12
If you hold a valid full driving licence from a recognised non-EU/EEA country, you may qualify for Reduced EDT — just 6 sessions instead of 12. This provision recognises your existing driving experience while ensuring you meet Irish road standards. Common qualifying countries include the USA, India, Brazil, Nigeria, Philippines, Pakistan, and China, among many others.
If your licence is from an EU/EEA country or from Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, New Zealand, the UK, Switzerland, Gibraltar, Taiwan, or Georgia, you may not need EDT at all — you can exchange your licence directly at the NDLS. See our complete guide to Reduced EDT eligibility and how it works.
EDT in an Automatic Car
EDT is available in both manual and automatic cars. All 12 sessions cover the same RSA syllabus content regardless of gearbox. In an automatic car, the clutch pedal is absent and gears change automatically — this removes the steepest early learning curve and allows learners to focus on road awareness, positioning, and observation from Session 1.
The important restriction to understand: if you complete your EDT and pass your RSA driving test in an automatic car, your full Irish driving licence will carry a Code 78 restriction — you are legally authorised to drive automatic vehicles only. To drive both automatic and manual cars you must pass the RSA driving test in a manual. There is no shortcut — to remove the Code 78 restriction you must sit the full driving test again in a manual car. See our full comparison: Manual vs Automatic Driving Test in Ireland.
BP Driving School offers EDT sessions in both manual and automatic cars across North Dublin. Many learners with no prior driving experience choose automatic first — building confidence and then switching to manual if they need the unrestricted licence. Discuss this with your instructor at your first session.
How Much Does EDT Cost in Dublin?
The RSA does not set the fees for EDT lessons — individual ADIs set their own prices. At BP Driving School, the full 12-session EDT course costs €550 (€100 per individual session). The 6-session Reduced EDT course is €290. All sessions include door-to-door pickup from your home, school, or workplace anywhere across North Dublin — Swords, Finglas, Raheny, Malahide, Artane, Baldoyle, Clontarf, Coolock, Donabate, Killester, Portmarnock, Santry, and surrounding areas.
Sessions are available Monday to Sunday, 7am to 9pm, in both manual and automatic cars. Lessons are conducted in English and Croatian.
What Happens After EDT?
Completing EDT is not the finish line — it is, as the RSA says, the point at which you have the skills to continue learning. Once all 12 sessions are logged and you have held your learner permit for at least 6 months, you can apply for your RSA driving test online at myroadsafety.rsa.ie. The current RSA driving test fee is €85.
Most learners in North Dublin do not go straight from their last EDT session to the driving test. The most effective preparation strategy is:
- Continue practising with your Sponsor on a variety of roads and in different conditions until you feel consistently confident.
- Book a pre-test lesson specifically on the roads around your chosen test centre — Finglas, Raheny, or Killester in North Dublin. See our guide to RSA driving test routes in North Dublin.
- Book a mock driving test on the real test routes to experience the test format under exam conditions and get specific feedback on every fault before they count on the real day.
- Review the driving test checklist so nothing is forgotten on test day.
Start Your EDT Course with BP Driving School
RSA-approved EDT sessions in North Dublin — all 12 sessions delivered by an RSA-approved ADI with door-to-door pickup. Manual & automatic. English & Croatian. 7 days a week.
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BP Driving School — all 12 RSA sessions. North Dublin. 7 days a week.
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