Temporary relaxation of the EU and GB drivers’ hours rules for drivers carrying goods by road.
Details
The Department for Transport introduced a temporary and limited urgent relaxation of the enforcement of both the EU and GB drivers’ hours rules in England, Scotland and Wales 23 March 2020.
Both of these relaxations have now ended.
Contents
- Future drivers’ hours relaxations
- Guidance
To help deal with the unprecedented consequences of the outbreak of COVID-19 on the road haulage sector, the Department for Transport introduced a temporary and limited urgent relaxation of the enforcement of both the EU and GB drivers’ hours rules in England, Scotland and Wales 23 March 2020.
Both of these relaxations have now ended.
Future drivers’ hours relaxations
The drivers’ hours rules are in place to protect road safety and the working conditions of drivers and to reduce the risk of drivers being involved in fatigue-related accidents.
The department wishes to emphasise that, as a general rule, we expect business to plan for and manage the risks of disruption to supply chains. Any relaxation of the drivers’ hours rules is usually a last resort when other means of mitigating a situation have failed. Therefore, industry must continue to put contingency plans in place to deal with the consequences of coronavirus (COVID-19).
If the situation does become unmanageable during the recovery phase and industry believe a relaxation of the drivers’ hours rules would help alleviate the pressure, then further relaxation requests will be considered on a case by case basis.
Guidance
The department has issued detailed guidance on the drivers’ hours rules and how to deal with emergency and urgent situations - particularly when and how to request a temporary relaxation of the rules.
15 June 2020, Department for Transport
- COVID-19: guidance on drivers’ hours relaxations
- Drivers’ hours: rules, guidance and list of temporary relaxations
Published 20 March 2020
Last updated 15 June 2020
Temporary relaxation of GB drivers' hours rules ended 23:59 Sunday 14 June.
Confirmation of end date for GB hours relaxation.
EU drivers' hours relaxation is ended. GB relaxation continues until 14 June.
Update on the temporary relaxations of EU and GB drivers' hours rules.
Extension of the current relaxations, apart for break derogation in EU rules, until 31 May 2020.
This is an update, following a specific review, confirming the continuation of the current temporary relaxation until 21 April 2020 and including a further minor relaxation of the EU drivers’ hours rules.
First published.
From: Department for Transport and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
