Drivers' Hours - EC Drivers' Hours

The biggest change to EC drivers' hours took place when it was decided that the analogue tachograph should be replaced by the digital tachograph.

Since May 2006 every new in-scope vehicle has had to be fitted with a digital tachograph vehicle unit and drivers' assigned to these vehicles must have been issued with a digital tachograph driver card.

The basics of the EU drivers' hours, since April 2007, are:-

DRIVERS MUST TAKE 'AT LEAST' 15 MINUTES AND THEN 'AT LEAST' 30 MINUTES BREAK - IN THAT ORDER - BY THE TIME 4 HOURS 30 MINUTES ACCUMULATED  DRIVING TIME HAS BEEN COMPLETED, UNLESS A 45 MINUTE BREAK HAS BEEN TAKEN.

It is no longer legally permitted, under EU Drivers' Hours, to take 3 X 15 minute breaks. Furthermore, if a driver takes breaks 'the wrong way round' - i.e. a 30 minute break followed by a 15 minute break by the time 4 hours 30 minutes driving has been completed IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The other main change is to do with weekly rest periods. A regular weekly rest period of AT LEAST 45 hours must be taken once 6 periods of work have been completed, although this can be replaced by a reduced weekly rest period of AT LEAST 24 hours, as long as the shortfall is taken within three weeks and a regular weekly rest period of AT LEAST 45 hours is taken every other week.

All the other changes are fully explained in Truck UK's Guide to EC Drivers' Hours. If you want a copy, in pdf format, e-mail: sdw@truckuk.net The best publication to consult is VOSA's GV262 Rules on Drivers Hours produced by COI on behalf of VOSA, last revised 2009. Ref: 295667.