Whether you are a nervous beginner, experienced candidate who has failed a driving test or simply looking for a refresher - our friendly, patient, approachable style will help you reach your goal.
You can be sure that you will be taught to drive competently using the most up to date techniques and you will be shown how to apply the principles of safe driving and the rules of the road to your everyday driving. During your driving lessons our instructor will assess your driving, analyse and correct any faults, thereby increasing your confidence and improving your driving skills.
Driving lessons can be conducted either in your own car or in the The Driving Academy's dual control vehicle.
Essential Driver Training (EDT)
Essential Driver Training (EDT) is a mandatory training course that teaches fundamental driving skills to learner car drivers. It is part of the RSA’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) scheme and is intended to improve road safety.
If the date of issue of your first learner permit is on or after 4 April 2011, you must complete Essential Driver Training (EDT) before you are allowed to take your full driving test. EDT is not required if your first learner permit was issued before 4 April 2011.
EDT is only part of the learning process, you will need lots of practice and may need more lesson to become a safe driver.
EDT is a course of 12 one-hour lessons. These lessons are designed to cover certain critical driving skills and improve your practical driving skills.
As you complete each lesson, your Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) will record your progress in a specially issued logbook.
You should also have a Sponsor, an experienced driver who will supervise your driving practice outside of lessons, and will also track your progress in your logbook. Many learner drivers choose a family member as their sponsor.
After you finish your EDT course, you may still need additional lessons with an ADI to improve your driving skills. Additionally, you should practice with your sponsor as much as possible to get comfortable behind the wheel.
You may be required to show your log book to the examiner on the day of your test so it is advisable to bring it with you.
The Driving Academy's professional driving instructors will cover the following topics with you.
| Cockpit Drill | Emerging right | Roundabouts |
| Controls | Crossing traffic | Dual carriageways |
| Moving off and stopping | Crossroads | Emergency stops |
| Importance of mirrors | Making progress | Bay parking |
| Signals | Negotiating hazards | Turning in the road |
| Hill starts | Meeting traffic | Parallel Parking |
| Correct use of gears | Urban roads | Reversing turning left |
| Turning left | Rural roads | Night driving |
| Emerging left | Pedestrian crossings | Safe and confident driving |
| Turning right | Anticipation |
Motorway Driving
As soon as you pass your driving test you are legally allowed to drive on the motorway system, but are you ready for it?
At no time whilst you are learning to drive will you have had any experience of driving on a motorway. Whilst our instructors will teach you all the essentials for driving at the national speed limit there is no substitute for actually driving on motorways. To ensure the safety of both you and your passengers you should have your first motorway drive with a fully qualified instructor who will teach you the correct method of dealing with high speed driving.
The Driving Academy's Motorway Driving lessons will enable you to learn the skills required to drive safely on motorways. An hour or two of motorway lessons will give you the experience necessary to drive safely and it may save your life.
Our motorway lessons cover the following:
- Advanced route planning
- Joining and leaving the motorway safely
- Lane discipline and safe following distances
- Overtaking safely
- Keeping a safety zone around your vehicle
- Awareness and reaction to other road users
- What to do in an emergency including personal safety
- Adverse weather conditions
- Motorway fatigue
Advanced Driving
Advanced drivers are up to 50% less likely to be involved in a road accident. They make smooth progress and suffer less stress. They aim to be cool, calm and in control, whatever the conditions.
The Driving Academy's Advanced Driving Course is carried out on a one-to-one basis with the instructor for the whole course duration and uses the participant's own car and offers an exciting and fresh approach to on road driving methods. The course content will help to improve your awareness and observation skills out on the road in all traffic and weather conditions and also guide you toward becoming a smoother and more accurate driver.
If you are interested in becoming an advanced driver The Driving Academy offers a range of courses to get you started. Ideally, we hope it will encourage you to go on and take a test with the Instutute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).
Passing your advanced test can lead to better deals from certain insurance companies, but the very fact that you will be a safer driver helps to protect your no claims bonus. It is your life and being a better driver makes you a safer driver for you and your family.
Night time driving brings with it a range of different hazards that are unique to night time.
Dealing with dazzle, use of lights and judging distance are amongst the skills you will learn as part of this course. This is an ideal course if you feel uncomfortable driving early in the morning or late at night.
Pre-Test Course
The Driving Academy offers a pre-test course to drivers who wish to undertake a mock examination. Our instructors will provide you with a recap of all the topics from your initial lessons, along with some friendly advice and tips to help you pass your test. You will then be taken through a driving test where our instructor will play the role of the official driving examiner. When the test is complete our instructor will perform a debrief with you and recommend areas where you may need additional practice.
Refresher Lessons
If you've passed your driving test but have not driven for a while or have had an accident then The Driving Academy can help you regain your confidence and have you back behind the wheel quickly. Just an hour or two of professional driver training can work wonders for your confidence.
Overseas Drivers
If you are new to Ireland from overseas either as a visitor, temporary resident, student or as a new permanent resident, you may not have a legal obligation to complete a driving test, however you may wish to undertake some professional training to bring you up to speed with the rules of the road. This is similar to the Refresher Lesson, but can be tailored to fit your needs.
