Drivers Hours Legislation - EU and Working Time

Basic Rules 

EU DRIVERS HOURS RULES – WEEKLY REST PERIOD

Minimum weekly rest period is 45 hours taken no later than the end of the 6th consecutive daily driving period

This can be reduced to 24 hours But a full 45 hour rest period must be taken every second week.

Any reduction in weekly rest must be compensated ‘en bloc’ by the end of the third following week by adding it to another rest period of at least 9 hours

WORKING TIME REGULATIONS

Working time for mobile workers must not exceed:

An average 48 hour week (normally calculated over a 17 week reference period)

A maximum of 60 hours in any single week

No more than 6 hours consecutive work without taking a break

Working time includes: Driving—Loading/unloading—Cleaning, checking and maintaining vehicle—Job-related training—

Waiting time when the driver cannot freely dispose of his/her time

Working time does not include:

Travelling between home and work—Rests and breaks—Periods of availability

A period of availability is waiting time, the likely duration of which is known about in advance by the driver

WORKING TIME REGULATIONS - BREAKS

A break must be taken after working no more than 6 consecutive hours

Working periods between 6 and 9 hours in total must be interrupted by breaks totaling at least 30 minutes

Working periods of more than 9 hours should be interrupted by breaks totaling at least 45 minutes All breaks should be of at least 15 minutes duration