The Road Safety Authority has this morning confirmed that essential driver training (EDT ) lessons with an approved driving instructor has recommenced for essential workers.
Initial Basic Training, the programme of mandatory training for learner motorcyclists, also resumed on May 10.
The RSA says the resumption of EDT lessons applies to any essential workers who want to start the EDT process ,as well as those who had already commenced their EDT before Level 5 restrictions were imposed. It also extends to essential workers in the process of undertaking lessons in preparation for car, HGV and bus tests.
As previously allowed by the Government, ADIs can continue to deliver pre-test lessons to essential workers. Those learners in the non-essential category may not take EDT sessions/lessons as restrictions remain in place for this group.
The RSA says it has “developed a form, which can be downloaded from the RSA website, which essential workers must complete to ‘self-declare’ their essential worker status.
“When completed it must be provided (hard copy or electronic ) to their ADI in advance of their EDT training. The self-declaration form only needs to be provided once by the learner driver to an ADI, it does not need to be provided before each session/lesson.”
It adds that the form should be kept on file by the ADI as the RSA may seek confirmation that a candidate has signed the ‘self-declaration’ confirming he/she is an essential worker.
The RSA reopened its EDT online portal at 12pm on May 10 to allow ADIs to upload EDT sessions completed by essential workers. While driving tests for essential workers continue to be the priority for the driver testing service, tests for those who fall into the ‘non-essential’ category are being allowed to recommence in a limited fashion.
It is expected that the earliest invitations for test appointments will be issued later this month. This is likely to cover customers who applied for a test about a year ago.
“We understand that people have been waiting sometime for these services, but would ask customers for their patience as plans are put in place to gradually re-open services over the coming weeks,” the RSA says. It adds that further details will be announced as they are finalised in the run-up to services recommencing.
