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Do you find yourself confused by the rules and regulations the drivers have to follow in order to prevent driver fatigue? You won’t be after reading this text. Hiring a high-quality vehicle to transport goods or passengers is essential, but keeping the journey safe and productive is just as important. And that is where driving hours regulations come into place.
There are daily limits, breaks, rests and weekly limits for drivers. In this post, we’ll cover domestic driving rules regarding time limits, the use of tachographs and the possible penalties for breaking these rules.
Table Of Contents
The British Domestic Driving Hours
If you’re driving a 3.5-tonne vehicle, your driving hours regulations fall under the domestic rules. Although similar, we will differentiate between the rules that apply to goods vehicles and bus drivers:
Goods Vehicle
Before focusing on driving hours, you should be aware of the duty time. This encompasses all working activities (not just driving) related to your job. This time is limited to 11 hours daily. Here are the driver hours rules you should be aware of:
- Daily limit – The maximum daily driving limit for goods vehicle drivers is 10 hours. You have the option of prolonging this period as a part of the collective or workforce agreement.
- Breaks – You should take a break after an uninterrupted period of 4.5 hours. The break should be at least 45 minutes long, but you can split it into two periods. The first one should be at least 15 minutes long, and the second one should be at least 30 minutes long.
- Rest – Daily rest periods are a must. For a 24-hour period, you should have a minimum of 11 hours of rest. Reduced rest of nine hours is possible for up to three times during a week.
- Weekly driving limit – The driving hours during a week must not exceed 60 hours. In a two-week period, the maximum driving hour limit is 90 hours.
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Buses And Coaches
Here are the drivers hours rules that apply to bus and coach drivers:
- Daily limit – The bus and coach drivers must respect the daily driving limit of 10 hours.
- Breaks – If you plan on driving less than 8.5 hours, then you should take a break of at least 30 minutes after 5.5 hours of interrupted driving. If you want to drive for at least 8.5 hours, the minimum break period is 45 minutes. And if you want to drive for more than 8.5 hours, you should take a break of 30 minutes plus the required 45-minute break. Every two weeks, you’re required to take at least 24 hours off duty.
- Rest – Rest periods are one of the most important aspects of these regulations. The regular daily rest period is 10 hours. You can opt for a reduced daily rest period of 8.5 hours up to three times a week.
- Weekly driving limit – The maximum weekly driving limit for bus and coach drivers is 56 hours in one week, or 90 hours in any two consecutive weeks.
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HGV Driving Hours
Driving hours for van drivers are covered by domestic rules. However, if you plan on driving a vehicle that exceeds 3.5 tonnes, you must learn about the EU drivers hours rules or ‘HGV Drivers Hours Rules’. Apart from the driving period, these limitations also include daily and weekly break and rest periods. Lorry drivers and transport companies must understand and comply with these rules to operate legally and safely in the UK and other EU countries.
- Daily driving limit – HGV drivers are limited to a maximum of 9 hours of driving per day. This average working time can be extended to 10 hours twice a week.
- Regular daily rest period and mandatory break – After 4.5 hours of driving, HGV drivers must take a 45-minute break. You can opt for a split daily rest period into two parts, with the first one being at least 15 minutes long and the second at least 30 minutes. When it comes to daily rest, you’re obligated to have a rest period of 11 hours, which can be reduced to nine hours. You can get this reduced daily rest period only three times a week.
- Weekly driving limit – For HGV driving, the maximum weekly driving limit is 56 hours, while the limit for two consecutive weeks is 90 hours.
- Weekly rest periods – A driver should take a rest period after no more than six consecutive periods of 24 hours from the end of the last weekly rest period. There are two types of weekly rests: regular and reduced. A regular weekly rest period is a continuous period of at least 45 hours. A reduced weekly rest period is a period of rest that can be reduced to 24 hours but must be compensated for by attaching another rest period to a regular weekly rest period, resulting in a total of at least 45 hours of rest.
- Fortnightly driving limit – When it comes to the fortnightly HGV driving limit, the maximum is 90 hours.
In cases of emergencies, drivers are exempt from adhering to driving hours rules and regulations.
Penalties For Breaking Driving Hours Regulations
Breaking rules comes with certain consequences. Penalties for breaking HGV driver hours regulations vary depending on the severity of the violation and the jurisdiction in which the offence occurs.
One of the most common penalties for non-compliance is the imposition of fines. If you don’t adhere to the daily driving hours limit in the UK, you’ll have to pay a fine of up to £300. Fines can range from relatively minor amounts to substantial penalties, particularly for repeat offenders or serious violations.
If a transport company is found to be complicit in encouraging or allowing drivers to violate driving hours regulations, they will face penalties as well. These can include fines, licence suspensions or even the revocation of operating licences.
In cases of extreme non-compliance or when violations result in serious accidents or harm, both drivers and companies can face criminal charges.
Exemptions To HGV Driver Hours Regulations
Other than the obvious one ( driving a vehicle that is under 3.5 tonnes), there are also some other instances where you can be exempted from the HGV driving hours.
Vehicles used by forces responsible for maintaining public order ( the Armed Forces, fire services, civil defence services, etc.), as well as vehicles used for medical purposes, don’t have to adhere to HGV drivers hours.
If you plan on driving a vehicle for non-commercial purposes, you’ll be glad to know that you also don’t have to stick to these regulations.
In cases of emergency, such as natural disasters, accidents or other unforeseen events, HGV drivers may be exempt from certain driving hours regulations. Such cases are typically temporary and granted on a case-by-case basis.
The exemptions to HGV driver hours are carefully regulated and monitored to ensure that they are not abused or exploited.
Tachograph Usage
The tachograph is the driving hours calculator for HGV and minibus drivers. It is used to track working hours, breaks and rest periods. To ensure that all rules and regulations are adhered to, it’s legally required for every professional driver to use them. Here is how they use them to track HGV driving hours:
- Inserting driver card – Each driver is issued a digital tachograph driver card. Before the start of the journey, the driver inserts the card into the digital tachograph unit installed in the vehicle.
- Entering activity status – The driver selects the appropriate activity status on the digital tachograph, such as ‘drive’, ‘other work’, ‘break’ and ‘ rest’. This informs the tachograph of the driver’s current duty status.
- Recording driving time – During breaks and rest periods, the driver switches the activity status on the digital tachograph accordingly.
- Downloading data – At the end of the journey or shift, the driver removes their card from the digital tachograph. The data recorded by the tachograph is then downloaded and stored electronically.
Ensuring drivers respect driving hours and break limits is essential for safety, but being aware of the speed limit for vans is just as important.
The Importance Of Monitoring And Managing Driving Hours
Long hours behind the wheel can lead to driver fatigue, which impairs judgement, slows reaction times and increases the risk of accidents. In fact, driver fatigue is considered the major cause of road crashes in the UK, and it’s even as dangerous as drunk driving. By monitoring and managing driving hours, drivers can ensure they get their rest periods and avoid the likelihood of accidents on the road.
HGV driving hours can also improve productivity. No matter how experienced an HGV driver is, continuous rest and these HGV working time directive rules will enhance their operational performance and help meet customer demands more effectively.
Effective management of driving hours also comes with many benefits for the vehicle, such as lower maintenance costs and reduced oil consumption.
Contact SDVH for our minibus rental and van hire deals and hit the road in confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Maximum Daily Driving Hours In The UK?
The maximum daily driving hours in the UK are 10 hours. This limit can be extended to 11 hours occasionally. EU drivers have a 9-hour daily driving limit set in place. The EU regulations apply to HGV drivers in the UK. It can also be extended to a maximum of 10 hours, up to two days a week.
How Many Hours Can You Drive In A Week?
You can drive up to 56 hours in a single week, while the maximum driving hours during two weeks is 90 hours. Van and HGV drivers should also respect the required rest time during the week (45 hours). You can opt for a reduced rest period of 24 hours, but you need to take an additional rest period during the same week to meet the 45-hour target.
How Do You Monitor Driving Hours?
You monitor driving hours by using tachographs. HGV drivers use those electronic devices installed in vehicles to record driving time, break and rest periods. Each driver is issued a driver card, which they insert into the tachograph unit at the beginning of their shift. Tachographs play a crucial role in ensuring compliance with domestic and HGV drivers hours rules.
Does Driving Hours Affect Safety?
Yes, driving hours affect safety. Driving for extended periods without adequate rest can lead to fatigue, impairing a driver’s ability to concentrate and make sound decisions. The drivers hours rule is designed to prevent this by limiting the amount of time drivers spend behind the wheel. Compliance with these rules reduces the risk of accidents caused by fatigue.
How Many Miles Should You Drive In A Day?
You should drive no more than 500 miles in a day. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, however. The number of miles can vary depending on the driver’s comfort level, the purpose of the journey and road conditions. Drivers should consider these factors when planning their daily mileage and be prepared to adjust their plans accordingly. It’s essential to prioritise safety and avoid pushing beyond one’s limits.
Conclusion
Now that domestic and HGV driving hours aren’t a big, confusing mystery to you, you can focus your attention on hiring the perfect vehicle for your business. Both van and HGV drivers have their own separate rules put in place to ensure the best efficiency and the safest possible transport. The most important thing is to remember to get enough rest when driving any vehicle.
