Drivers' Hours - GB Domestic Rules

Domestic hours are only available to a very small percentage of operators of commercial vehicles.

They're not difficult to understand .................. 10 hours driving per day and 11 hours work per day just about covers it!
The GB domestic rules, as contained in the Transport Act 1968, apply to most goods vehicles that are exempt from the EU rules. Separate rules apply to Northern Ireland.

Duty: In the case of an employee driver, this means being on duty (whether driving or otherwise)
for anyone who employs him as a driver. This includes all periods of work and driving, but does not
include rest or breaks. Employers should also remember that they have additional obligations to
ensure that drivers receive adequate rest under health and safety legislation. For owner drivers, this means driving a vehicle connected with their business, or doing any other work connected with the vehicle and its load.

Domestic rules exemptions
The following groups are exempt from the domestic drivers’ hours rules:
• drivers of vehicles used by the Armed Forces, the police and fire brigade;
• drivers who always drive off the public road system; and
• private driving, i.e. not in connection with a job or in any way to earn a living.
Domestic driving limits
Driving is defined as being at the controls of a vehicle for the purposes of controlling its movement,
whether it is moving or stationary with the engine running, even for a short period of time.
Daily driving
In any working day the maximum amount of driving permitted is 10 hours. The daily driving limit applies to driving on and off the public road. Off-road driving for the purposes of agriculture, quarrying, forestry, building work or civil engineering counts as duty rather than driving time.
Daily duty
In any working day the maximum amount of duty permitted is 11 hours. A driver is exempt from the
daily duty limit (11 hours) on any working day when he does not drive.
A driver who does not drive for more than 4 hours on each day of the week is exempt from the daily
duty limit.
Drivers of certain vehicles are exempt from the duty but not the driving limit, namely – goods vehicles, including dual purpose vehicles, not exceeding a maximum permitted gross weight of 3.5 tonnes,
when used:
• by doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives or vets;
• for any service of inspection, cleaning, maintenance, repair, installation or fitting;
• by commercial travellers;

The best publication to consult is VOSA's: GV262 Guide to Drivers Hours  Go to Section 3, page 24.