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About RSA EDT Survey and Review

RSA Survey on Essential Driver Training EDT 24 05 2019

EDT and IBT, designed by Competence Assurance Systems 2008 - 2011 for the RSA was deemed to be independently Reviewed for the RSA in 2012.  The Review of Systems which were designed based mainly on incorrect Transport Research Laboratory Reports and stopping formulas had many mistakes and contradictions and was removed from the RSA web page in 2019 after I queried it. 

Gardai and the RSA differ on stopping distance from a speed of 120 km/h by 1.52 seconds 50 metres and the RSA respond to my research discovery by posing 53 Survey Questions on EDT for learner drivers as follows:

  1. What is your gender?
  2. How old are you?
  3. Where in Ireland do / did you learn to drive?
  4. Which of the following best describes you, Learner, Licenced or Failed Test?
  5. How easy is/was it to find information on EDT?
  6. How easy was it to access information on EDT before you contacted a driving school?
  7. How easy is/was it for you to understand the information provided on EDT?
  8. How easy is/was it for your Sponsor to understand the information provided on EDT if you had a Sponsor? 
  9. How well presented is/was the information on EDT provided by your ADI?
  10. How well presented is/was the information on EDT provided by the RSA?
  11. Have you watched / did you watch the RSA's EDT video?
  12. Has your Sponsor seen / did your Sponsor see the RSA's 'Sponsor' video? 
  13. How good was your understanding of EDT when you attended your first mandatory EDT Session?
  14. Did your ADI brief you on the EDT process and explain how it works before you attended your first mandatory EDT Session?
  15. If you selected 'Yes', how useful was this briefing?
  16. Did your ADI show you the RSA's EDT videos before you started your EDT?
  17. Did your ADI strongly encourage your use of a Sponsor to help you through the learning to drive process?
  18. Do/did you have a Sponsor? (If you select 'No' go straight to Question 31)
  19. How easy was it to find a Sponsor?
  20. Who has acted as your Sponsor? (Tick all that apply)
  21. Has your Sponsor taken you / did your sponsor take you on practice drives while you were learning to drive?
  22. Does/did your Sponsor accompany you on your mandatory EDT Sessions?
  23. Does/did your ADI and Sponsor discuss your mandatory EDT Sessions? 
    (Consider asking your Sponsor to help you answer this question repeated)
  24. Does/did your ADI ever invite your Sponsor to accompany you on a mandatory EDT Session?
  25. How good is/was your Sponsor’s understanding of the EDT process? 
  26. How many hours of practice with Sponsors do/did you typically have between mandatory EDT Sessions?
  27. How valuable are/were practice drives with your Sponsor in supporting your progress through EDT?
  28. Please explain your answer (Please limit your answer to 50 words):
  29. What sort of things do/did you cover in practice drives with your Sponsor? 
  30. How important is it that before you pass your driving tests you should always have an experienced accompanying driver with you when you are driving?
  31. How many formal ADI driving lessons have you had / did you have in addition to your mandatory EDT Sessions with your ADI?
  32. How long do/did your mandatory EDT Sessions typically last?
  33. What is/was the typical time period between your mandatory EDT Sessions?
  34. Do you think there should be additional mandatory EDT Sessions?
  35. If you selected 'Yes', please state what you think the content should be? (Please limit your answer to 50 words):
  36. How well planned are/were your mandatory EDT Sessions?
  37. How well does/did your ADI deliver your mandatory EDT Sessions?
  38. How often does/did your ADI write comments or give advice in your EDT logbook?
  39. How helpful do/did you find your ADI’s comments in your logbook?
  40. How often do/did you make use of the self-analysis section of your logbook?
  41. How helpful do/did you find it to complete the self-analysis section in the EDT logbook?
  42. How often does/did your ADI encourage you to complete the self-analysis section of the EDT logbook?
  43. How often does/did your Sponsor read or refer to your logbook?
  44. Did your Sponsor make use of the feedback and recommended actions provided by your ADI in your logbook?
  45. The RSA is currently considering how Logbooks may be developed in the future.
    If the current Logbook was replaced with an App, would this make Logbook more effective?
  46. Are there changes you would like to see introduced to the content and/or structure of the logbook?
  47. If Yes, please state what changes you would like to see (Please limit your answer to 50 words):
  48. Only complete questions 49 and 50 if you have passed your driving test:
    How well did the mandatory EDT Sessions help you to prepare for your driving test?
  49. How well did the mandatory EDT Sessions prepare you to drive safely and responsibly after passing your driving test?
  50. What aspects of EDT do you think are most beneficial? (Please limit your answer to 50 words):
  51. What aspects of EDT do you think are least beneficial? (Please limit your answer to 50 words):
  52. Do you think that the EDT sessions cover all the aspects of driving that they should?
  53. If no, what do you think should be added to the EDT sessions? (Please limit your answer to 50 words):

Note: EDT is illegal, and the RSA since 04  05 2011 decline an invitation to demonstrate delivery, while Gardai refer my queries on the differnt stopping distance formulas used, to the RSA.  The RSA engage TRL who designed a new Report RPN2213 for the SRA, not RSA.  This Report was used by the RSA to mislead the Dail when answering Parliamentary Questions 721/2 on stopping distances.

The Review of EDT and IBT was removed from the RSA web site in 2019 after Michael Dolan retired, so

Freedom of Information Request FOI-2019-51 Re; EDT and IBT Review Missing and Cost.

Request sought; "...Reason or reasons for the RSA removing the Review of Initial Basic Training (IBT) and Essential Driver Training (EDT) from the RSA web site, the cost of this Review which was prepared by Laura Brooks and Dr. Charles Johnson for Michael Dolan the RSA Chief Driving Tester (now retired) as well as the cost of this Review."

Eamon Kennedy the Road Safety Authority Freedom of Information Officer responded;

"I have made a final decision to grant your request.

The 2012 EDT Review was removed from the RSA website earlier this year as part of a website refresh.  As the information was seven years old it was decided to remove it as the RSA has commenced a new review of the EDT programme which will be published on the website later in the year.

A copy of the 2012 EDT review can be made available to any individual on request and I have included a copy for your information. The cost of the 2012 EDT/IBT review was €110,000." It appears that CAS, Volumes 1 and 2 cost in the region of €500,000.