Car Essential Driver Training (EDT)

CAR CONTROLS AND SAFETY CHECKS

What is the objective for Session 1?

The first session with your instructor will focus on essential aspects of vehicle handling and safety. The session includes:

1. Pre-start vehicle checks, ensuring you can perform appropriate checks to assess the vehicle’s roadworthiness.
2. Familiarity with the vehicle’s primary and secondary controls and knowing how to use them correctly.

By the end of this session, you will have learned the following:

1. Primary and secondary controls: You should know the location and function of various controls, such as footbrake, handbrake/parking brake, steering, gears, accelerator, clutch (if applicable), windscreen wipers, washers, lights, reflectors, horn, front and rear demisters, windows, doors, and locks. You should also understand why using these controls correctly is crucial for your safety and that of other road users.

2. Vehicle safety: You should be able to explain and demonstrate routine safety checks for a vehicle, understand the reasons why a vehicle may not be roadworthy, and be aware of the safety and legal consequences of driving an unfit vehicle. Additionally, you should grasp the main points to consider while carrying out safety checks.

3. Positive environmental impact: You will learn about the positive environmental effects of proper use of primary and secondary controls.

4. Journey planning: You should understand how to plan a journey and, where relevant, access journey information.

Overall, this first session aims to provide you with foundational knowledge and skills related to vehicle control, safety, and responsible driving practices.

CORRECT POSITIONING 1

What is the objective for Session 2?

During your second session with your instructor, the focus will be on positioning the car correctly on the road for various driving actions, including driving on straight roads, cornering, negotiating bends and junctions, changing lanes, entering and exiting slip roads, junctions, and roundabouts, as well as maintaining the correct positioning within traffic lanes.

The session will cover:

1. Driving in light traffic situations, allowing you ample opportunities to practice vehicle positioning in different scenarios.
2. Positioning your vehicle correctly on the straight, within traffic lanes, on bends (both left and right), at roundabouts, and while approaching and emerging from junctions.

By the end of the second session, the expected outcomes are:

1. Demonstrate the ability to maintain a safe position on the road in various driving situations.
2. Understand and apply appropriate safe braking distances from other vehicles.
3. Display the appropriate and safe utilization of available road space.

This session aims to enhance your understanding of proper vehicle positioning and spacing on the road, fostering safe driving habits that contribute to overall road safety.

CHANGING DIRECTION 1

What is the objective for Session 3? 

In this session, your instructor will ensure that you practice key observational techniques in low-risk driving environments, such as quiet residential areas and local rural roads.

The session will cover:

1. Driving in light traffic situations to practice the MSMM (Mirror, Signal, Mirror, Manoeuvre) routine.
2. Learning basic scanning techniques during actions like turning left and right, navigating roundabouts, and approaching junctions.

By the end of the third session, the expected outcomes are:

1. Demonstrating appropriate use of mirrors while driving.
2. Correctly executing the MSMM routine during various maneuvers.
3. Utilizing “safety glances” effectively when moving off, turning, approaching junctions, and navigating roundabouts.
4. Being aware of blind spots and knowing how to compensate for them.

The primary objective of this session is to improve your observation and scanning skills, ensuring you are more confident and aware of your surroundings, thus contributing to safer driving practices.

PROGRESSION MANAGEMENT

What is the objective for Session 4?  

During this fourth session, your instructor will ensure that you can effectively regulate and maintain control over the speed of your vehicle, particularly in lower risk driving environments like quiet residential areas and local rural roads.

The minimum this session should cover includes:

1. Controlling the speed of your vehicle in accordance with speed limits and road layouts.
2. Understanding speed limits, stopping distances, and the impact of road and weather conditions on driving.
3. Recognising the potential consequences of driving too fast and braking too hard.

By the end of the fourth session, the expected outcomes are:

1. Demonstrating the ability to adjust your vehicle’s speed appropriately based on speed limits and road conditions.
2. Explaining the effects of road and weather conditions, as well as vehicle load, on stopping distances at different speeds.
3. Understanding the potential implications of driving too fast and braking abruptly on your safety, the safety of passengers, other road users, and the environment.

This session aims to equip you with essential knowledge and skills related to speed management, ensuring you drive responsibly and safely, considering the various factors that can affect your vehicle’s speed and stopping capabilities.

PROGRESSION MANAGEMENT

What is the objective for Session 5?

During this fifth session, your instructor will ensure that you can accurately position your vehicle on the road for various driving actions. These actions include positioning on straight roads, cornering, navigating bends, negotiating junctions, changing lanes, entering and exiting slip roads and junctions, handling roundabouts, performing reversals, making turns, parking, and stopping.

The minimum this session should cover includes:

1. Driving in traffic in diverse road conditions, allowing you ample opportunities to practice vehicle positioning in different scenarios.
2. Positioning your vehicle correctly on the straight, within traffic lanes, on bends (turning left and right), while turning, approaching and emerging from junctions, reversing, performing turnabouts, parking, and stopping in confined spaces and traffic.

By the end of the fifth session, the expected outcomes are:

1. Demonstrating consistent maintenance of a safe position on the road while maintaining a safe braking distance.
2. Making appropriate and safe use of road sharing with other vehicles.
3. Performing various manoeuvres, including parking, reversing, and turnabouts, in challenging situations effectively.

The primary objective of this session is to enhance your ability to handle different driving scenarios, improving your vehicle positioning and manoeuvring skills to ensure safe and responsible driving practices.

ANTICIPATION AND REACTION

What is the objective for Session 6? 

During this sixth session, your instructor will ensure that you develop the ability to scan the environment effectively for potential hazards and respond appropriately to them while driving.

This session will cover:

1. Driving in various road conditions, encompassing scenarios involving junctions, streets with parked cars, areas with substantial pedestrian presence, roads with multiple warning signs, and roads with poor visibility (e.g., bends with tree cover or hill brows).
2. Identifying and addressing potential hazards related to road junctions, blind spots, parked vehicles, crossings, roundabouts, motorcyclists and cyclists, road works, and pedestrians. If not possible to experience these scenarios directly, your ADI will engage you in discussing them through questions, and you should be able to answer them.

By the end of the sixth session, the expected outcomes are:

1. Demonstrating the use of effective scanning techniques to identify and respond to hazards promptly.
2. Considering potential hazards and adjusting your driving behavior accordingly, including choosing appropriate speed and gear, maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles, and braking correctly.
3. Understanding the potential effects of driving at night, in rainy conditions, fog, and snow.
4. Showing the ability to identify hazards and respond to them in a timely manner.

This session aims to enhance your hazard perception skills and situational awareness, enabling you to drive safely and confidently while proactively managing potential risks on the road.

SHARING THE ROAD

What is the objective for Session 7? 

During this seventh session, your instructor will ensure that you can drive with proper care and attention, considering the road and traffic conditions and taking appropriate actions when identifying hazards.

This session will cover:

1. Driving in various road conditions, including junctions and streets with parked cars.
2. Driving on streets with substantial numbers of pedestrians to gain experience in interacting with them and understanding when and how to give way to other road users.
3. Practicing how to deal with emergency vehicles when necessary.

By the end of the seventh session, the expected outcomes are:

1. Demonstrating the ability to enter, cross, and join roads safely.
2. Knowing how to park safely on roads with other road users.
3. Safely passing stationary and slow-moving vehicles, cyclists, and other road users with responsibility.
4. Understanding when and how to yield to other road users, including pedestrians.
5. Knowing how to appropriately deal with emergency vehicles.

This session aims to ensure that you become a cautious and responsible driver, capable of navigating various road conditions, interacting safely with other road users, and responding appropriately to hazards and emergency situations.

DRIVING SAFELY THROUGH TRAFFIC

What is the objective for Session 8?

During this eighth session, your instructor will ensure that you can drive with due care and attention, particularly in situations with a significant volume of other traffic.

This session will cover:

1. Focusing on defensive driving techniques to enhance safety.
2. Recognising potential risks to the safety of other road users and managing them effectively.
3. Learning how to cooperate with other road users on the road.

During the session, you will drive in various busy road conditions to gain substantial interaction with other road users, allowing you to practice these skills effectively.

By the end of the eighth session, the expected outcomes are:

1. Demonstrating the ability to act appropriately and decisively while driving in traffic.
2. Describing actual and potential risks to other road users and effectively managing them.
3. Displaying proficiency in using defensive driving techniques without causing hesitation or impeding reasonable progress.
4. Demonstrating a high level of cooperation with other road users.

This session aims to enhance your confidence and competence in handling busy traffic situations, ensuring you are considerate and proactive in managing potential risks while driving responsibly and safely on the road.

CHANGING DIRECTION 2

What is the objective for Session 9?

During this ninth session, your instructor will ensure that you can perform the following tasks:

1. Carry out observational and scanning tasks effectively while turning left and right.
2. Skillfully negotiate junctions.
3. Change direction in more complex and challenging driving situations.

This session will cover:

1. Driving in traffic in a variety of busy road conditions, providing ample interaction with other road users.
2. Making independent decisions about which route to take while driving.

By the end of this session, the expected outcomes are:

1. Safely changing course while considering traffic controls and other road users.
2. Yielding to other road users and progressing appropriately.
3. Safely changing course using the MSMM (Mirror, Signal, Mirror, Manoeuvre) routine without requiring prompts.

This session aims to boost your confidence and competence in making informed driving decisions, handling more complex driving scenarios, and navigating through busy traffic conditions while prioritising safety and cooperation with other road users.

SPEED MANAGEMENT

What is the objective for Session 10?

During this tenth session, your instructor will ensure that you can effectively regulate and maintain control over the speed of the vehicle, especially in more complex or challenging driving situations.

This session will cover:

1. Driving in fast-moving traffic or areas with highly variable speeds, such as roads with changing speed limits or variable traffic conditions. Some parts of this session should involve independent driving.

By the end of this session, the expected outcomes are:

1. Demonstrating the ability to manage and control your vehicle’s speed without prompting from your ADI.
2. Safely driving in fast-moving traffic and areas with highly variable speeds.
3. Making independent decisions confidently when encountering challenging driving situations.
4. Describing how to drive safely in fast-moving traffic under different weather conditions.
5. Explaining how using the vehicle’s main controls and complying with speed limits can impact the environment.

This session aims to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to handle more complex driving scenarios, ensuring you can confidently control your vehicle’s speed and respond appropriately to varying traffic conditions, all while considering the environment and driving responsibly.

DRIVING CALMLY

What is the objective for Session 11?

During this eleventh session, you will primarily drive independently and make your own decisions while ensuring that you remain in calm control of your vehicle, even in frustrating, exasperating, or threatening situations. Your instructor will focus on the fundamentals of being fit to drive and the safe loading of vehicles.

The minimum this session should cover includes:

1. Experiencing driving situations such as joining busy main roads, entering junctions while driving independently, simulating stalling and re-starting the vehicle, and parking on roads with numerous parked cars and moderate traffic volumes.
2. Covering aspects related to journey planning and ensuring the fitness of passengers to travel.

By the end of this session, the expected outcomes are:

1. Demonstrating appropriate anticipation of and reactions to other road users.
2. Driving safely and independently without hesitation or prompting.
3. Explaining how to deal with peer pressure or other distractions while driving.
4. Being able to recover promptly and smoothly if the vehicle stalls or conditions force you to stop.
5. Understanding the factors that might cause you to be unfit to drive, including the effects of alcohol, drugs, prescribed medication, lack of sleep, sickness, injury, and heightened emotions.
6. Describing the consequences of driving in an unfit condition for your own safety, the safety of passengers, and other road users, including the legal implications.
7. Understanding the possible consequences of carrying passengers likely to distract you.
8. Explaining the effects of fully loading a vehicle, how to load it safely and securely, and the importance of not exceeding the maximum number of passengers.

This session aims to ensure that you can confidently handle various driving challenges, make informed decisions, and prioritise safety and responsibility while driving independently and managing challenging situations calmly and effectively.

NIGHT DRIVING

What is the objective for Session 12? 

During this twelfth session, your instructor will ensure that you can use your vehicle lighting correctly and respond appropriately to the lights of other road users. Additionally, you should be able to maintain full control of the vehicle while driving through traffic in the dark or in poor lighting conditions.

This session will cover:

1. Conducting the session after dark, driving in a variety of road conditions, including urban and rural roads, and experiencing significant interaction with other road users.

By the end of this session, the expected outcomes are:

1. Demonstrating safe driving practices in the dark and in areas with poor road lighting.
2. Knowing how to handle poor night vision and its symptoms effectively.
3. Showing the correct usage of your vehicle’s lighting.
4. Displaying the appropriate response to other vehicle lighting, including emergency vehicle lighting.

This session aims to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to drive safely in low-light conditions, handle various road situations, and respond correctly to different types of vehicle lighting. It emphasises the importance of maintaining control and ensuring safety while driving at night or in areas with poor visibility.