Lesson 7: Sharing the road
EDT lesson 7 is about driving with care and attention around everyone else on the road: pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, other drivers and emergency vehicles.
Your ADI will pick routes with junctions, parked cars and busy footpaths, so you get real practice dealing with people rather than just the road.
By the end of this topic you can
- You can enter, cross and join roads safely
- You can park safely on roads used by other people
- You can pass stationary and slow vehicles, cyclists and other road users safely and responsibly
- You can judge when and how to give way, including to pedestrians
- You can respond correctly to emergency vehicles
What you need to know and understand
- Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are vulnerable road users with little or no protection.
- Give cyclists plenty of room when passing, and more at higher speeds; do not pass if you cannot leave a safe gap.
- At a zebra crossing you must give way to pedestrians who are on the crossing.
- Children, older people and people with disabilities may need more time to cross.
- When an emergency vehicle with lights or siren approaches, help it pass safely without breaking traffic rules or putting others at risk.
- Failure to yield the right of way is one of the RSA's most common reasons for failing the test.
Passing cyclists and slow vehicles
- Look well ahead and decide early whether you can pass safely.
- Check mirrors and signal if it helps others.
- Move out early, leaving a wide gap; slow down if the road is narrow.
- Do not cut back in until the cyclist or vehicle is well clear behind you.
- If there is not enough room, stay back and wait patiently.
Giving way well
Giving way is not just about road markings. It means not forcing anyone to change speed or direction because of what you did. When pulling out, changing lanes or turning across traffic, wait for a gap that does not make others brake or swerve.
Watch pedestrians near crossings and junctions. If someone is clearly waiting at a zebra crossing, be ready to stop.
Emergency vehicles
Listen and look for flashing blue lights. Check where the vehicle is and where it needs to go. Pull in or slow down to let it pass when it is safe and legal, without mounting footpaths or driving through red lights.
By the end of lesson 7 the RSA expects you to know how to deal with emergency vehicles, as well as the other outcomes above. Before the next lesson, practise on routes with plenty of pedestrians and cyclists and read the Rules of the Road on sharing the road.
Common mistakes
- Squeezing past a cyclist on a narrow road. Wait for a safe gap.
- Pulling out of a junction and making approaching traffic slow down. Wait for a clear gap.
- Not noticing a pedestrian waiting at a crossing. Scan the footpaths as you approach.
- Panicking when a siren sounds. Stay calm, find where it is coming from, then act safely.
Test yourself: Lesson 7: Sharing the road
Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.
Loading questions…
Go deeper
Sources: Road Safety Authority, EDT Learner Driver Information Booklet, Session 7 (rsa.ie); Road Safety Authority, Driving test, what it is (rsa.ie); Road Safety Authority, Repeating your test, common reasons for failing (rsa.ie); Road Safety Authority, Rules of the Road (rsa.ie). Independent guide, not affiliated with any licensing agency. Always check the latest official rules with the RSA.