Road Safety Education Program - Competencies
The Road Safety Education Program (RSEP) covers four competencies:
- Establishing the profile of a safe, cooperative and responsible driver
- Handling a passenger vehicle
- Sharing the road
- Using the road network independently and responsibly
The program comprises 4 phases:
Phase 1 : Prerequisite for a learner’s licence (theory only);
Phase 2 : Guided driving, where the learner becomes familiar with basic maneuvers in easy driving environments (e. g., parking lots, small residential streets, etc.).
Phase 3 : Semi-guided driving, where the learner becomes familiar with more complex maneuvers and displays safe driving behaviours in varied driving environments.
Phase 4 : Semi-guided to independent driving, where the learner acquires greater knowledge of the proper maneuvers and good behaviours to adopt in varied driving environments and is able to prepare a summary of what he has learned.
The RSEP training schedule
The training is divided into four phases, during which theoretical courses (modules 1 through 12) and in-car sessions (sessions 1 to 15) are offered on an alternating basis. In total, learners undergo 24 hours of theoretical training and 15 hours of in-car sessions.
Detailed information on each of the four RSE Program phases
Minimum duration of each phase
- Phase 1: Minimum duration of 28 days to complete all of the courses in this phase.
- Phase 2: Minimum duration of 28 days to complete all of the courses in this phase.
- Phase 3: Minimum duration of 56 days to complete all of the courses in this phase.
- Phase 4: Minimum duration of 56 days to complete all of the courses in this phase.
It is highly recommended that learners practice driving with an accompanying rider not only in between the courses taught by the driving school instructor, but also between the various program phases.
Exams and process for obtaining a learner’s licence and a probationary licence during the required training
A learner’s licence is delivered once a learner has successfully passed the knowledge test at his driving school (module 5). This licence must be kept for a minimum of 12 months during which the learner will take his driving courses (including in-car sessions and classroom lessons) and practice with an accompanying rider.
The learner will then need to pass a second knowledge test, this one at a SAAQ service centre, once all 12 theory modules are completed and he has held a learner’s licence for at least 10 months.
The probationary licence is delivered once a learner has successfully passed the SAAQ road test. To take this test, the learner must have completed the driving school RSE Program and have held a learner’s licence for at least 12 months.
Total duration of the RSE Program
The minimum duration of the RSE Program, from the time a learner registers in a driving school until he receives a probationary licence, is 13 months.
Layout of the RSE Program steps for the whole 13-month duration
