This
is a very simple outline.
There are many refinements, vehicle exemptions, etc.
There were some changes in April 2007.
Domestic rules allow more driving time.
|
VOSA
Publications |
GV262 -
Drivers Hours and Tachograph Rules for Goods Vehicles
|
| PSV375 -
Drivers Hours and Tachograph Rules for Road Passenger Vehicles |
| Copies from VOSA by calling 0870
606 0440 or email from web site |
| VOSA Transport
Office Web Site |
| to April 2007 |
from April 2007
|
| Daily
Driving: |
Max 9 hours. Can be extended to 10
hours twice a week |
No change. |
 |
|
|
| Weekly Driving: |
56 hours in 6 driving periods. |
Max 56 hours |
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|
|
| 2
weeks: |
90 hours |
90 hours |
|
| Breaks: |
After 4 1/2 hours driving,
you must take a break of at least 45 minutes. |
| Breaks of 15 minutes, taken
during the above driving period, can count towards that break. |
First break must be at least
15 minutes. Second break must be at least 30 minutes. |
| Drivers are also
subject to the Working Time Directive |
| WTD: |
After 6 hours work/driving you must have a break: Minimum
30 minutes.
(Usually, however, Drivers
will have had a 45 driving break before reaching
the 6 hour point so this will not apply).
A break of 30 minutes is required for 6-9 hours work; 45 minutes
for over 9 hours.
Breaks can be divided into 15 minute slots. First break must be at
least 30 minutes.
Where mixed driving and working is carried out, the drivers' hours
rules on breaks (EC/3820/85) take precedence. |
 |
|
|
 |
| 30 minutes on checks, driving for 4.5
hours; normal 45 minute break required. |
WTD does not apply. |
 |
| Work or POA for 3 hours, driving for
3 hours; min. 30 minute break required, (WTD). You can then drive
for (max) 1.5 hours; 15 minute break required, (Driving Reg's). |
WTD does apply: You
must have 30 minute break. |
|
| Minimum
Daily Rest: |
Normally 11 consecutive hours.
Rest periods can be taken in a vehicle if that vehicle has
a bunk and is stationary. |
|
|
|
|
| Reduced
Daily Rest: |
9 hours up to 3 times in a
week but the hours lost must be made up by the end of the following
week. |
Same, but no compensation for
lost hours is required. |
|
|
| Split
Daily Rest: |
If the daily rest period is
composed of non-consecutive hours:
The accumulated rest period should add up to at least 12 hours,
with one rest period of at least 8 hours.
The other periods must be at least 1 hour. |
12 hour rest period may be
taken in two periods:
First period must be at least 3 hours. Second period must be
at least 9 hours. |
|
|
| Weekly
Rest Periods: |
At least 45 consecutive hours which can be reduced
to 36 hours at base or 24 hours away from base.
This must be taken after no more then 6 successive periods
of 24 hours following the last weekly rest period (provided
the total driving time does not exceed the maximum corresponding
to six daily driving periods).
Reductions must be taken en bloc before the end of the third
week following the week of reduction, and attached to another
rest period of at least 8 hours long.
Compensation shall be taken at the vehicle or driver’s
base at the driver’s request.
A weekly rest that begins in one week and continues in the
following week may be attached to either of these weeks.
|
Within six 24 hour
periods from the end of the last weekly rest period, a driver
will extend a daily rest period into either; a regular weekly
rest period of at least 45 hours, or a reduced weekly rest
period of less than 45 hours but at least 24 hours.
In any two consecutive weeks, a driver shall take at least
two
regular weekly rest periods, or one regular weekly rest period
and one reduced weekly rest period of at least 24 hours.
However, the reduction shall be compensated by an equivalent
period of rest taken en bloc before the end of the third week
following the week in question. |
| Making
up rest: |
Compensatory hours should be added to a rest period of at
least 8 hours.
Note on tachograph, for that day: "Compensation for DR/WR
for (date) hours/minutes)" |
|
|
| Rest
on ferries / trains: |
Where a driver accompanies
a vehicle which is transported by ferry boat or train, daily
rest may be interrupted once, provided part of the rest is
taken on land, the interruption is no longer than 1 hour (including
customs formalities), the driver has access to a bunk or couchette
during both portions of rest, and the rest period is increased
by 2 hours. |
Where a driver accompanies
a vehicle which is transported by ferry or train,
and takes a regular (not less than 11 hour) daily rest period,
that period may be interrupted not more than twice by other
activities not exceeding one hour in total.
During that regular daily rest period the driver shall have
access to a bunk or couchette. |
|
|
| Double
Manning: |
8 hours rest in 30 hours for each driver, with
the need for all crew members to be present with the vehicle
at all times within that period.
Breaks, but not rest periods, can be taken whilst a vehicle
is moving. |
Within 30 hours of the end
of a daily or weekly rest period, a driver engaged in multi-manning
must have taken a new daily rest period of at least 9 hours.
For the first hour of multi-manning the presence of another
driver or drivers is optional, but for the remainder of the
period it is compulsory. |
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|
 |
| Emergencies |
| |
Provided that road safety is not jeopardised, and to enable
him to reach a suitable stopping place, the driver may depart from the
driving limits and rest requirements to extend necessary to ensure the
safety of persons, of the vehicle or of its load.
A note of the occurrence and the reason why the requirements were disregarded
must be made on the back of the tachograph chart. (Or
Print Out?)
|
| Domestic Rules |
| |
Domestic drivers hours rules apply to the drivers' of
Vehicles on journeys within the United Kingdom which are exempt from
the EC rules.
The rules do not apply to drivers who always drive off the public road
(i.e. driving in connection with road improvements or road maintenance,
quarrying or other construction work or civil engineering works)
.A driver who drives for less than 4 hours in any day in any fixed week
(24:00 hrs Sunday to 24:00 hrs Sunday) does not have to observe the drivers
hours requirement during that week.
Daily Driving Limit - Domestic A driver
must not drive for more than 10 hours in a day. The daily driving limit
applies to time spent at the wheel actually driving on a public road.
Off-road driving counts as duty time.
Daily Duty Limit - Domestic
A driver must not be on duty for more that 11 hours on
any working day. A driver is exempt from the daily duty
limit on any working day when he does not drive.
Emergencies
The domestic rules are relaxed for events needing immediate action to
avoid danger to life of health; serious interruption of essential public
services (gas, water, electricity, or drainage); or of telecommunications
and postal services; or in the use of roads, railways, ports, airports;
or serious damage to property. In these cases the driving and duty limits
are suspended for the duration of the emergency.
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