Jan 26th, 2021
3 mins
In response to the exceptional pressures on the freight industry due to the continued consequences of COVID-19 and new variant, the Department for Transport (DfT) has introduced a temporary relaxation of the enforcement of the retained EU driver’s hour rules in England, Scotland and Wales for the general haulage of goods in Great Britain. The relaxation of rules applies until 23:59pm on the 31st March 2021.
The EU drivers’ hour’s rules can be temporarily relaxed as follows:
- replacement of the requirement to take a full weekly rest period of 45 hours in a 2-week period, with an alternative pattern of weekly rest periods specified below – this enables 2 consecutive reduced weekly rest periods to be taken:
- In a 4-week period, a driver can take 2 consecutive reduced weekly-rest periods of at least 24 hours (allowing them to work 2 6-day weeks)
- however, any reduction in weekly rest shall be compensated for in the normal way by an equivalent period of rest taken before the end of the third week following the week in question
- in addition, any rest taken as compensation for a reduced weekly rest period shall be attached to a regular weekly rest period of at least 45 hours (which can be split over 2 regular weekly rest periods)
- increasing the fortnightly driving limit from 90 hours to 96 hours
It’s not recommended this relaxation be used for drivers engaged partly in international journeys. To view the full guidance please see below link:
