2) ‘L’ Plates
Learner permit holders for all categories
(except W) must display ‘L’ plates on both the front and rear of their vehicles while they are driving. These plates should feature a red ‘L’ on a white background, with the letter measuring at least 15cm in height and a border of at least 2cm. It is an offence for a learner driver to drive without displaying ‘L’ plates. This offence attracts a penalty of a fixed charge fine and up to 4 penalty points.
Learner permit holders for categories A, A1, A2 and AM must display ‘L’ plates on a yellow fluorescent tabard that are clearly visible on the front and back of the driver’s body.
3) Essential Driver Training and Initial Basic Training
It is illegal to give driving instruction for payment or reward to learner drivers Driving Instructors (ADI) is available on www.rsa.ie.
4) Car Driver Training
All holders of their first learner permit issued from 4 April 2011 must undertake Essential Driver Training (EDT) with an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI). [See www.rsa.ie for an up to date list of ADIs.]
EDT is a training course that teaches fundamental driving skills to learner car drivers. The course is made up of 12 individual one-hour sessions.
At each EDT session, your ADI will check your learner permit, and if you are using your own car, will check to make sure your insurance, motor tax, NCT and roadworthiness of the vehicle are all in order. In addition you should request from your ADI your official EDT Logbook, which you are responsible for and should take along to each lesson. The logbook must be completed including an official stamp, instructor’s and student’s signatures, and returned to the student at the end of each EDT session.
You can check on www.rsa.ie/myedt for EDT sessions completed.
A Sponsor is a qualified driver who supervises any driving outside of formal lessons and tracks practice sessions in your logbook.