Driving hours

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Having had information that the 2 boxes (3.5t) and whoever is driving are soon to be looked into we are wanting to make sure everyone has the information to protect yourselves.

Whilst the 2 boxes don’t have tachographs if investigated they will look into all your working/driving hours.

Daily Driving Hours

A driver can drive for 9 hours per day, but they can drive for 10 hours per day twice in any given week.

Weekly Driving Hours

A driver can drive a maximum of 56 hours per week.
A driving week will be considered as 6 days because a weekly rest must occur after 6 daily driving periods or 6 days.
(this means that you can’t drive the horsebox seven days in a row)

Accumulated Driving Hours

In addition to the weekly driving hours limit of 56 hours, drivers must also follow the Accumulated Driving Hours rule where they must not exceed 90 hours driving time in any two consecutive weeks. This rule therefore prevents the maximum hours being worked each week in the interests of road safety.

Driver Breaks

Drivers can only drive for a maximum of 4½ hours without taking a break. After driving for a continuous period of 4½ hours a driver must take an uninterrupted break of at least 45 minutes.

No other work must be performed during a break period.

Drivers Daily Rest

A driver is required to have 11 hours rest in 24 hours – although this can be reduced to 9 hours three times between two weekly rest periods.
(So coming back late from Wolverhampton etc and driving/working again first thing in the morning can’t be done unless having at least a 9 hours break)

Uninterrupted rest means that the driver must not do any work for any employer during this time. Rest is determined as time that the driver may freely dispose of his/her time.

Weekly Rest Periods

A driver must start a weekly rest period after no more than 6 consecutive 24-hour periods from the end of the last weekly rest period taken.

A weekly rest period is a rest of at least 45 hours.
(This is two clear days off working altogether basically every two weeks)

Once again, the definition of rest is: a period of rest where the driver is freely able to dispose of his/her time. They must not undertake work for any employer during this time, including themselves.

Penalty

VOSA won’t accept “The boss made me do it” or “If I hadn’t done it someone else from the yard would have” as excuses, YOU are the driver breaking the law!

Anyone caught failing to observe driving time, break or rest period rules can face a fine of up to £2,500 and points on your licence.
That is You as the driver, not your boss!