All about what's new in the Driving and Resting Time Regulations 2020

NEW FEATURES OF THE REGULATION ON DRIVING TIME AND REST PERIODS FOR PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS.

Today the new regulation comes into force which regulates the maximum driving time and rest periods for professional drivers during their working day (weekly) as well as the minimum breaks they must take.

This was made official by the Journal of the European Union on 31 July, which concludes the 3 years of processing, after assessing the efficiency of the application of the current regulations in the road transport sector throughout the European Union.

WHAT IS NEW IN THIS REGULATION?

- In order to improve the performance of international transport operations, the provisions of the normal weekly rest periods have been adapted. Thus, by complying with the rules, the worker will be able to enjoy this normal weekly rest period at home. This is done in the following way: by taking two consecutive reduced weekly rest periods of at least 24 hours, reaching 48 hours. Taking into account that the following 4 consecutive weeks a minimum of 4 weekly rest periods must be taken, two normal ones of at least 45 hours. In order to know whether we are talking about international transport or not, it must be taken into account whether the driver starts the two consecutive reduced weekly rest periods outside the Member State where his company is established and outside the driver's place of residence.

- Following this improvement, an exception is added on the circumstances in which a driver may exceed the daily and weekly driving time by a total of one hour, in order to be able to reach his home or place of business and have the weekly rest period.

- Furthermore, he may exceed the driving time by up to two hours when he has taken an uninterrupted break of 30 minutes immediately after the additional driving to reach his home or place of business in order to have the normal weekly rest period.

- It is important to clarify that these exceptions must be reported manually on the record sheet or on the printout of the recording equipment.

- If driving time has been exceeded, it must be compensated by an equivalent rest period, together with another rest period in the following three weeks.

- It is also specified that transport companies must organise the routes so that a driver is not more than 4 consecutive weeks away from his place of business or home. On his return, he is to start his normal weekly rest period or weekly rest of more than 45 hours.

The company will be responsible for documenting the way in which this measure is complied with on a mandatory basis, keeping the documentation to be presented if required by the control authorities.

- In order to improve and promote social progress, the place where the normal weekly rest period (of at least 48 hours or more) will be taken by carriers must be specified. It should be ensured that it will be in appropriate conditions, outside the cab, and at the company's expense.

Driver driving his truck.

In short, these are the main changes in the current regulations, which are due to be implemented from today, 20 August. These changes are aimed at ensuring the rights and rest times of drivers, as well as their road safety during long journeys and for other road users.

If you want to know more, click here to see all the new regulations.