Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 June 2022
111. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport his views on the effectiveness of the current EDT system for learner drivers paying particular attention to any improvement in overall deaths or casualties on the roads and to driving test pass rates; his views on the reduced EDT program and the safety related research that was done before this was approved. [31801/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am satisfied that the current Essential Driver Training (EDT) programme is comprehensive in nature and ensures that everyone who successfully passes their driving test is competent to drive on our roads.
The EDT programme provides for a minimum of 12 lessons with an Approved Driving Instructor covering all essential driver skills.
In 2006 a total of 396 people lost their lives on our roads; following the implementation of a wide-ranging set of measures by my Department, this figure was reduced to 137 in 2021. Among these measures is the EDT programme, and I have no doubt that it contributed substantially to the reduction in road fatalities over the last number of years.
In relation to the reduced EDT process, this affects drivers coming to Ireland with a full driving licence from a country with which Ireland does not have a licence exchange agreement. These drivers may well be safe, but we have no way of measuring this. For this reason it was decided that drivers from these countries would be required to undergo the driver theory test and a minimum of 6 EDT lessons before they took the Irish driving test.
Any driver who is not competent to drive on our roads will not pass the driving test. I am satisfied that this process strikes a balance which makes some allowance for the experience of people who hold a full driving licence from another country, while insisting on a driver theory test, a shorter series of driving lessons and a driving test, to ensure that they meet the required standard.
