In the travel time the controls of the car will be explained to you as they are used. You will be given a basic running commentary on how to drive as the instructor moves the tution vehicle through the traffic and why he takes up certain positions in the road, why he yields to other traffic and how he observes other traffic, reads road furniture and markings to take the correct course of action to be a safe defensive driver.

It will give you the chance to get to know your new driving instructor and the quality of his teaching. You will be given a complimentary package of notes on cockpit drill, steering and observation. Also you will be able to discuss lesson plans and prices with your instructor to get the best personal deal for you.

If you you want intensive lessons they start at €35 but are far better as a package of 10 for hours for €300, as you get detailed written colour diagrams and notes support by a complimentary 47 min intensive video on driving techniques to pass your test.

Why will a whole week’s intensive course work so well?

Learning to drive taking only 1 or 2 hours of tuition a week will never be enough practice time for most learners to make real progress. Particularly as most learners will take up to 40 lessons and at least fail their tests 3 to 4 times, due to irregular teaching and possibly using different instructors.

On average learner drivers on an hourly tuition basis will take anything up to 14 months to achieve the driving test standard. Look back at your friends and family who taken their test and ask.

Will the week’s intensive course be right for you?

For most people who want to learn quickly the answer is yes. At the end of your first day because you will be taking a number of diagrams, written notes plus applying this to the way you drive You will be tired the first day. However as each day unfolds you will find that you will feel more confident and learning becomes quicker and easier. Remember that intensive courses are proven to be the fastest way for learners of all ages when learning to drive but are not common in Ireland. Yet Garda drivers, the Armed Forces, LGV drivers, Bus drivers and even Driving Testers are and are being continued to be trained in this way.

Learning with an intensive driving course means that your training will be over a five day week of 6 hours per day with 3 half hour breaks and not over not many months. You are with one instructor who is a highly skilled Fleet Driver Trainer who not only specialises in teaching learners but is also specialised in teaching company fleet drivers to improve their daily skills in driving. Your trainer is registered both in Ireland and the UK as an Approved Driving Instructor and in the UK as a Fleet Driver Trainer

Everything you learn will stay fresh in your mind encouraging a new confidence in your driving to grow and develop you into a safe, skilful and defensive driver.

Types of courses

One to One Course
Dragon Driver tuition is all on one learner driver to one instructor basis.
This is mostly preferred by most learners when learning to drive.

Shared Tuition Course
Shared tuition courses are where two or three learners are trained in the car together Dragon Driver will only recommend shared tuition course for friends or family members, who want to take a shared tuition course. Please call for details.

What will the course cover and what learning materials will be supplied?

Topics covered in the course include

• Cockpit drill
• Controls of vehicle
• Anticipating actions of others
• Taking appropriate preventative and corrective action where necessary
• Moving off, stopping and road position
• Reversing and Left Reverse around a corner
• Turnabout, also known as the three point turn
• Approaching road junctions to turn left and right
• Approaching roundabouts
• Emerging at road junctions and roundabouts
• Progression
• Pedestrian crossings
• Dealing with crossroads
• Use of mirrors and giving all types of signals
• Meeting, overtaking and clearance of all other road users
• Judgement of speed
• Driving at night
• Stopping distances in different weather conditions
• Commentary Driving

Learning Materials.

• 16 pages of written notes with colour diagrams, plus questions and answers.
• 47 minute intensive DVD on Learning to Drive
•  Daily Student Check List with assessment level
• Recap colour diagrams and notes on full course.

Course Commitment.
If you should fail the test the first time Dragon Driver will offer a two hour lesson free of charge for the second and third fail only.

Course Fees.
6 hours of lessons per day for 5 days consisting of 2 hour lessons with half hour breaks.

Manual Car €810  Buy Now!
Automatic Car €875  Buy Now!

Courses must be prepaid.
All courses take place in Dublin commence in Phoenix Park, and then go on road for local road, built up area and national route training. The course is then completed on one of the Dublin test centres of the learner’s choice.

EDT can be done with this course and Dragon Driver will ensure all the standards are met.

A resource for journalists providing up-to-date press releases, images and contact details for our press room

07 May 2012

Operation Learner Driver – 43% of learner permit holders drive unaccompanied http://www.rsa.ie/en/Utility/News/2012/Operation-Learner-Driver—43-of-learner-permit-holders-drive-unaccompanied/

Road Safety is every road user’s responsibility. Tragically 58 people have already lost their lives on our roads so far this year. This is 7 road deaths less than this period last year.

The majority of road users have adopted safer behaviours and played their part in reducing the pain and grief that comes with every fatal or serious injury road collision. With this in mind, we appeal to every road user to once again play their part in continuing with this reduction in road deaths.

Enforcement by An Garda Síochána will continue to focus on high risk behaviour such as speeding, drink or drug driving, non use of seatbelts, reckless driving and use of mobile phones. A particular focus will also be on the Learner Driver. From 2 recent operations targeting Learner Drivers we find that a significant percentage of those are not abiding by the conditions of holding that permit. Of the 2200 drivers checked, 43% (946) were un-accompanied by a full licence holder, and 30% (660) were not displaying L plates. In some cases both offences were committed by the same driver.

Assistant Commissioner John O’ Mahoney said today:

“We appeal to all road users to continue to do all they can in keeping our roads as safe as they can be. Although 7 less people have been killed on our roads, we saw an increase in April 2012 compared to April 2011 (18 versus 8). We must be mindful that any mistake on the road can lead to very serious consequences for all involved. We especially wish to remind all learner permit holders of their legal obligations with regards to displaying L-plates, being accompanied by qualified drivers at all times and motorway restrictions. A recent series of operations highlighted the fact that as high as 43% of learner permit holders were in breach of these conditions. Driving is a skill which must be practised to improve that skill. As a learner you are doing exactly that, learning, to drive. All vehicle owners should also ensure that any learner permit holder driving their vehicle is accompanied by a fully qualified driver and displays L plates at all times. An Garda Síochána will continue to prioritise the enforcement to these road traffic regulations to ensure greater compliance by Learner Drivers. ”

Commenting on ‘Operation Learner Driver’, Mr. Noel Brett, CEO, Road Safety Authority while disappointed at the high number of novice drivers detected welcomed the Garda enforcement of these vital road safety laws, “A learner permit is just that, a permit, it is not a driving licence. A Learner Permit allows an individual to learn to drive under certain conditions, until they are ready to take a driving test. These include, that they be accompanied by a driver who has held their full licence for more than two years and that ‘L’ plates are displayed at all times to alert other drivers to the presence of a novice driver. These laws are there to protect this group who are vulnerable road users by the fact that they are inexperienced drivers.”

“There are now over 2,000 Approved Driving Instructors (ADI) nationwide, registered with the RSA, who are able to provide a high standard of tuition to candidates. They are also providing tuition under the new RSA’s mandatory Essential Driver Training Programme, which requires anyone who received their first Learner Permit since the 4th May 2011 to undertake 12 hours of compulsory driving tuition. Waiting times for the driving test have been cut dramatically and are below a ten week national average and in some places this waiting time is lower. If someone needs an urgent driving test, for example to secure a job, we can prioritise that candidate for a test. Waiting times for a driving test or access to quality tuition are no longer excuses for driving long term or breaching the terms of the Learner Permit.”

“There is also an issue of parental responsibility involved here and I would appeal directly to the parents of young learner drivers to stop turning a blind eye to what’s going on and do not allow their son or daughter access to a vehicle, unless they are accompanied and have ‘L’ plates displayed.”

“It is also worth pointing out that a learner permit holder who is not adhering to the requirements for that licence and who is involved in a collision will be covered for third party liability but their insurance provider may not cover any other costs and may seek to recover costs for the non compliant driver,” concluded Mr. Brett.

A list of over 2,000 Approved Driving Instructors (ADI) nationwide can be found on the RSA’s website.

Commenting on results of the Garda enforcement Mr. Garry Redmond, President, Union of Students in Ireland, said “I am concerned by the number of Learner Drivers who are driving unaccompanied. Such drivers pose a real risk not only to other drivers and vulnerable road users but also to themselves. As a learner driver you simply have not proven that you are a safe and competent driver, no matter how many lessons you have taken. So it’s vital that you drive accompanied by a fully qualified driver whenever using the road.”

Mr. Redmond added that, “the USI is fully supportive of such campaigns by An Garda Síochána to eliminate this irresponsible driving practice and would remind drivers of the consequences of driving unaccompanied. Furthermore we will continue to work with both the Gardai and the RSA to promote road safety on campuses across the country.”

ENDS

For media queries, please contact:

Garda Press Office:             01 666 2030

Notes to Editors:

1. Operation Learner Driver March 1st-2nd 2012
Region

No of L drivers

Unaccompanied

No L Plates

Dublin region

197

85

93
Eastern region

226

125

97

Northern region

137

76

46

South Eastern region

258

94

55

Southern region

204

98

66

Western region

161

56

37

Total

1,183

534

394
2. Operation Learner Driver 19th April 2012
Region

No of L drivers

Unaccompanied

No L Plates

Dublin region

96

63

52

Eastern region

255

114

78

Northern region

137

61

51

South Eastern region

170

53

24

Southern region

274

92

47

Western region

85

29

14

Total

1,017

412

266
3. Number of car drivers on a learner permit in Ireland as of 31st March 2012
Learner permit Count

Number of car drivers

1st

114,632

2nd

67,022

3rd

19,557

4th

12,380

5th

6,470

6th

4,495

7th

3,717

8th

3,007

9th

2,498

10th

1,359

11th or more

848

Total

235,984
4. Provisional figures from An Garda Síochána – Operation Learner Driver March 1st -2nd 2012
Region

NO of L drivers

Unaccompanied

No L Plates

Caution

Proceeding Commenced

Dublin region

197

85

93

111

37

Eastern region

226

125

97

147

35

Northern region

137

76

46

67

9

South Eastern region

258

94

55

69

49

Southern region

204

98

66

68

42

Western region

161

56

37

59

4

Total

1,183

534

394

521

176
5. Provisional figures from An Garda Síochána – Operation Learner Driver 19th April 2012
Region

No of L drivers

Unaccompanied

No L Plates

Caution

Proceeding Commenced

Dublin region

96

63

52

64

32

Eastern region

255

114

78

112

31

Northern region

137

61

51

84

1

South Eastern region

170

53

24

61

18

Southern region

274

92

47

80

14

Western region

85

29

14

27

7

Total

1,017

412

266

428

103

Overall Total from both operations

2,200

940

660

949

279
6. General penalty
S.10219 — Where a person is guilty of an offence under any section or subsection of a section of the Road Traffic Acts, 1961 to 2006 and, apart from this section and disregarding any disqualification that may be capable of being imposed, no penalty is provided for the offence, such person shall be liable on summary conviction—
(a) in the case of a first offence under that section or subsection – to a fine not exceeding €1000,
(b) in the case of a second offence under that section or subsection, or of a third or subsequent such offence other than an offence referred to in the next paragraph – to a fine not exceeding €2,000, and
(c) in the case of a third or subsequent offence under that section or subsection which is the third or subsequent such offence in any period of twelve consecutive months – to a fine not exceeding €2,000 or, at the discretion of the Court, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

Buy Now!

The course includes the following free items:

• Free Pack of 16 pages of abbreviated diagrams and support notes for learner and sponsor
• Free Learner Driver Training Syllabus Module Notes
• Free Booklet Helping learner drivers to drive safely
• Free EDT Trainer Logbook.

Briefly the course consists of:

LESSON 1: CAR CONTROLS AND SAFETY CHECKS
LESSON 2: CORRECT POSITIONING
LESSON 3: CHANGING DIRECTION
LESSON 4: PROGRESSION MANAGEMENT
LESSON 5: CORRECT POSITIONING
LESSON 6: ANTICIPATION AND REACTION
LESSON 7: SHARING THE ROAD
LESSON 8: DRIVING SAFELY THROUGH TRAFFIC
LESSON 9: CHANGING DIRECTION (MORE COMPLEX SITUATIONS)
LESSON 10: SPEED MANAGEMENT
LESSON 11: DRIVING CALMLY
LESSON 12: NIGHT DRIVING

For more information you can download the brochure here.

The course must be supported by an elected sponsor if possible.

Some students may find difficulty in completing the course in 12 hours whilst others may get through the course more quickly.

If difficulty is found in completing any of the EDT lessons and student would like additional lessons to improve their standards a special hourly rate of €30 will be charged

Terms and Conditions

A STRICT 48 hour cancellation policy is in place.
Vouchers may be bought and will be valid for 1 year only.
The offer is limited to the first 30 customers on a first come first serve basis.

20 Minute assessment of present standard

110 minute instructional lesson on the test routes supported with diagrams showings you what is expected of you on the test routes, plus your test faults explained

20 minute mock Test as conducted by the RSA examiner and how he would speak to you

10 Minute demonstration by the driving instructor showing how the RSA examiner would like you to drive.

10 Minute lesson on correcting faults

10 Minute recap on bonnet checks, test questions and general tips

Course includes DVD “The Visual Guide to Passing Your Practical Driving Test”

Please note this course would only suit experienced learner drivers, due to its intensive nature of tution.

Course Price €110

This is a prepayment package.

The legislation implements a reduction in the limit in line with levels in other European countries.

The new limit is now 50mg of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood down from the previous limit of 80mg.

For the first time, learner drivers will be subject to a lower limit of 20mg per 100ml of blood.

The new lower limit will also apply to taxi and tractor drivers, private cars towing a trailer and to anyone who does not have their licence on them when stopped by gardaí.