Driving Time

Driving time is one of the most critical aspects of European social regulations for road transport, primarily governed by Regulation (EC) 561/2006. These rules are designed to combat driver fatigue and improve road safety. The main rules are:

The caps

• Daily Driving Time: A driver cannot exceed 9 hours of driving per day. This can be extended to 10 hours twice a week.
• Weekly Driving Time: The total driving time in a week cannot exceed 56 hours.
• Fortnightly Driving Time: The total driving time over any two consecutive weeks cannot exceed 90 hours.
• Continuous Driving Time: After a maximum of 4.5 hours of continuous driving, a driver must take an uninterrupted break of at least 45 minutes. This break can also be split into two periods: a first break of at least 15 minutes, followed by a second of at least 30 minutes.

How they are recorded

These times are automatically recorded by the tachograph, and adherence is strictly monitored during roadside checks and company audits.