Driver Regulations

When a vehicle has two or more drivers, they must each obey the limits regarding continuous driving, breaks and total daily driving. Their daily rest requirements are different from a vehicle with a single driver. In the 30 hour period starting with the end of the last daily (or weekly rest) they will have a new rest period of at least 9 hours;

During the first hour of a double manned journey, it is not necessary for both drivers to be on the vehicle. However, both drivers must be present for the remainder of the journey. This would allow a vehicle to depart from the operating centre and collect the second driver on route, provided this was accomplished within one hour of the first driver starting work.

Where the vehicle is transported by ferry or train, the rest requirements can be varied;

• A regular daily rest period may be interrupted no more than twice; this would allow a vehicle to drive onto a ferry and off at the end of the sea crossing (depending upon the length of the crossing).
• The total interruption of the rest period must be no more than 1 hour.
• A bunk or couchette must be available during the rest period;

Either a regular or a reduced daily rest period may be extended to become a weekly rest period. Weekly rest periods must begin no later than the end of the sixth 24 hour period from the end of the previous weekly rest. Again this sentence looks complicated, in reality, the application is straightforward; in the example below, the weekly rest period ends at 08:00am Monday morning, therefore the next weekly rest period must begin no later than 08:00am Sunday.

• Two regular weekly rest periods, or
• One regular weekly rest period and one reduced weekly rest If a reduced weekly rest period is taken, an equivalent amount of rest to the reduction must be 'paid back.'

Regulation 561/2006 comes into force on 11 April 2007 and applies to all journeys made in whole or in part on roads open to the Public, by the following vehicles;

• goods carrying vehicles where the maximum permitted mass (including any trailer or semi-trailer drawn) exceeds 3.5 tonnes.
• passenger carrying vehicles which are constructed or permanently adapted to carry more than nine persons, including the driver.

Many of the exemptions from these Regulations are broadly similar to those in the previous legislation. However, there are some important changes, we have listed them here;

• PSV drivers on non regular National and International carriage of passengers (tours) used to be able to delay their weekly rest until 12 daily driving periods had been completed, or at the end of the 12th day. This is no longer the case. Both PSV and HGV drivers must start their weekly rest period no later than the end of the sixth 24 hour period from when their previous weekly rest period ended.
• The drivers of specialised breakdown vehicles were previously exempt from EC drivers hours rules. From 11 April 2007, the exemption will only apply when they remain within a radius of 100km of the vehicles' usual base.
• Presently vehicles used for the carriage of passengers on regular services, where the route was over 50km in length, did not have to have a tachograph fitted if; the driver carried a copy of the service timetable and an extract from the duty roster covering the current, previous and following weeks. This exemption has been revoked, vehicles used in this operation are required to be fitted with tachographs.
• Minibuses with between 10 and 17 passenger seats are presently exempt EC drivers hours when on UK journeys. After 11 April 2007, these vehicles will only be exempt if they are used exclusively for the non commercial transport of passengers.
• The private use of vehicles is presently exempt from EC drivers hours rules. On 11 April 2007, this exemption will only apply when the permitted mass of the vehicle (and any trailer drawn) does not exceed 7500kg.
• At present drivers of PSV's engaged on regular services to designated locations, for example; London Victoria Coach Station, Leicester St Margaret's, and Nottingham Broadmarsh may take a break of 30 minutes after four hour driving. This derogation will be removed after 11 April 2007. The drivers of these services will have to follow the break rules described opposite. To check if the intended use of your vehicle is exempt from EC drivers hours please contact the Enquiry Unit, or check the website.