What are drivers’ driving time regulations?
Drivers’ driving time regulations provide a common set of EU rules for maximum daily and fortnightly driving times, as well as minimum daily and weekly rest periods.
The aim is to avoid distortion of competition, improve road safety and ensure good working conditions for drivers. For logistics providers, these rules are essential for safe, compliant and reliable transport planning.
Overview of the main regulations
The EU rules on drivers’ hours cover five key areas: maximum driving times, mandatory breaks, daily rest periods, weekly rest periods and specific exceptions that may apply in exceptional circumstances. Together, these regulations help prevent driver fatigue, improve road safety and ensure fair competition across the transport sector.
The main requirements are:
- Maximum daily driving time of 9 hours, extendable to 10 hours twice per week.
- Maximum weekly driving time of 56 hours and fortnightly driving time of 90 hours.
- A break of at least 45 minutes after 4.5 hours of driving.
- A minimum daily rest period of 11 hours, with limited reductions permitted.
- A regular weekly rest period of 45 hours, with specific rules for reduced weekly rest.
- Limited exceptions for exceptional circumstances and certain national derogations.
Maximum daily and weekly driving time
A driver may normally drive for a maximum of 9 hours per day. This daily driving time may be extended to 10 hours, but only twice in one week.
The total weekly driving time may not exceed 56 hours. Over two consecutive weeks, the total driving time may not exceed 90 hours.
For example, if a driver reaches 56 hours in one week, the maximum driving time in the following week is limited to 34 hours to remain within the fortnightly limit.
Breaks during the working day
After a driving period of 4.5 hours, a driver must take a break of at least 45 minutes.
This break may be taken as one continuous break or split into two parts: first a break of at least 15 minutes, followed by a second break of at least 30 minutes. These breaks help reduce fatigue and support safer driving during the journey.
Daily rest periods
A regular daily rest period must be at least 11 hours.
In certain cases, this may be reduced to 9 hours, up to a maximum of three times between two weekly rest periods.
Daily rest can also be split into two periods: one period of at least 3 hours, followed by a second period of at least 9 hours. Together, this creates a total daily rest period of 12 hours.
Weekly rest periods
A regular weekly rest period is 45 continuous hours. In certain cases, this may be reduced to a minimum of 24 hours, provided the reduction is compensated in accordance with the applicable rules.
Any reduction must be compensated by an equivalent period of rest taken in one block before the end of the third week following the week in question.
A weekly rest period must generally start no later than the end of six 24-hour periods from the end of the previous weekly rest period. Regular weekly rest periods, and weekly rest periods of more than 45 hours taken as compensation, may not be taken in the vehicle and must be taken in suitable accommodation.
For most road haulage operations, this means routes, loading slots and delivery windows must be planned carefully to ensure drivers can take their required rest on time.
Exceptional circumstances
In exceptional circumstances, daily or weekly driving time may be exceeded by up to one hour to enable the driver to reach their place of residence or the employer’s operational centre to take a weekly rest period.
Driving time may be exceeded by up to two hours to reach the driver’s place of residence or the employer’s operational centre for a regular weekly rest period, provided the driver takes an uninterrupted break of 30 minutes immediately before the additional driving.
These exceptions may only be used in specific situations, must not compromise road safety and should not be treated as part of standard transport planning.
National and temporary exceptions
Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 allows certain national derogations under Article 13. This means Member States may choose to apply specific national exceptions for certain transport operations.
Article 14 also allows Member States to grant temporary exceptions in urgent cases or exceptional circumstances. These exceptions are limited in time and must be notified to the European Commission.
The role of the tachograph
Compliance with driving times, breaks and rest periods is monitored through tachograph records. A tachograph records driving activity, rest periods, other work and availability.
These records can be checked during roadside inspections and at company premises, both at national and international level. Accurate tachograph use is therefore essential for drivers, carriers and logistics providers.
Tachograph requirements are set out separately, mainly in Regulation (EU) No 165/2014.
More information can be found in the driver manual, provided by Van den Bosch.
