Driving times, breaks and driver rest – an overview
Driving and rest times are the most frequent subject of roadside checks. We have summarised the limits under Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 so that they can be navigated quickly.
How much driving is allowed per day and per week
The basic limits are set by Article 6 of the regulation. Daily driving time must not exceed 9 hours, and may be extended to at most 10 hours no more than twice a week.
Weekly driving time must not exceed 56 hours and the total accumulated driving time over two consecutive weeks must not exceed 90 hours.
All driving time counts towards these limits, both within the Union and in third countries – it cannot be "reset" by crossing a border.
Breaks during driving
Under Article 7, after four and a half hours of driving a driver must take an uninterrupted break of at least 45 minutes, unless they are beginning a rest period.
This break may be split: it can be replaced by a break of at least 15 minutes followed by a break of at least 30 minutes. The order is fixed – the shorter part must come first.
Overall, then, after 4.5 hours behind the wheel a driver must have taken 45 minutes of break, whether in one piece or in the prescribed split.
Daily rest – regular and reduced
A regular daily rest period is any rest period of at least 11 hours. A reduced daily rest period lasts at least 9 hours but less than 11.
A driver must take a new daily rest period within each 24-hour period after the end of the previous daily or weekly rest period.
Reductions cannot go on indefinitely: a driver may take at most three reduced daily rest periods between any two weekly rest periods. Where a vehicle is crewed by more than one driver a variation applies – the new daily rest of at least 9 hours must be taken within 30 hours.
Weekly rest and compensation for a reduction
A regular weekly rest period lasts at least 45 hours; a reduced weekly rest period is less than 45 hours.
In any two consecutive weeks a driver must take either two regular weekly rest periods, or one regular and one reduced period of at least 24 hours. A reduction must, however, be compensated – by an equivalent period of rest taken in one block before the end of the third week following the week in question.
Timing matters too: a weekly rest period must begin no later than at the end of six 24-hour periods from the end of the previous weekly rest period.
Where drivers most often go wrong
The most common breach is exceeding 4.5 hours of driving without a break – typically when trying to "push on" to the unloading point. Second in line is a fourth reduction of daily rest between two weekly rest periods.
Another frequent error is forgotten compensation for a reduced weekly rest, because it has to be taken in one of the following weeks and is easy to overlook.
It is equally worth watching that activities are switched correctly on the tachograph – time spent on other work has to be recorded as such, not left as rest.
How GPS tracking helps and what it does not cover
Let's be precise: recording driving and rest times is a matter for the tachograph. A GPS unit is not an approved recording device and its data does not carry the same standing during a check.
GPS tracking is, however, useful for planning – the dispatcher sees where vehicles are and how long they have been on the road, so routes and loading can be planned more realistically to fit within the limits. At the same time it keeps a mileage log automatically, which the tachograph will not replace.
The limits above are a summary of the regulation; for specific cases, particularly combined transport or exemptions, consult a transport adviser.
FAQ
How many hours a day may a driver drive?
At most 9 hours. Daily driving time may be extended to 10 hours, but no more than twice a week.
What is the weekly driving limit?
At most 56 hours a week and at the same time at most 90 hours over two consecutive weeks.
When must a driver take a break?
After 4.5 hours of driving they must take an uninterrupted break of at least 45 minutes. It can be replaced by a break of at least 15 minutes followed by a break of at least 30 minutes.
How long is the daily rest period?
A regular daily rest period lasts at least 11 hours, a reduced one at least 9 hours. A driver may take a reduced period at most three times between two weekly rest periods.
Must a reduced weekly rest be compensated?
Yes. The compensation is taken in one block before the end of the third week following the week in which the rest was reduced.
Does GPS tracking replace the record of driving times?
No. The statutory record is made by the tachograph. GPS helps with route planning and keeps a mileage log, but it is not an approved recording device.
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