Relaxation of driver rules extended

The Department of Transport has extended the temporary relaxation of the enforcement of the drivers’ hours rules for another two weeks.

The Department introduced a temporary and limited urgent relaxation of the enforcement of both the EU and GB drivers’ hours rules in England, Scotland and Wales on March 23 in response to unprecedented pressures on supply stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak.

This relaxation was due to end on Sunday, May 31, but, following a review, the relaxation of the GB domestic drivers’ hour rules will continue until 23:59 on Sunday 14 June 2020.

The separate relaxation of the EU drivers’ hours rules did expire on May 31.

The department said it would continue to keep the situation under review.

More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/temporary-relaxation-of-the-enforcement-of-the-drivers-hours-rules-all-sectors-carriage-of-goods-by-road

The GB drivers’ hours rules can be temporarily relaxed as follows:

• Replacement of the GB duty time limit of 11 hours with 12 hours
• Replacement of the GB daily driving time limit of 10 hours with 11 hours
• Drivers can only take advantage of this temporary relaxation 5 days in any 7-day period, and must take a rest period of 24 hours within the same 7-day period when taking advantage of this relaxation.

Anyone driving under the GB drivers’ hours rules and undertaking carriage of goods by road can use the relevant relaxations where necessary.

Although the relaxations are not limited to specific sectors or journeys, they should only be used where necessary, otherwise normal drivers’ hours rules should apply.

The Department said: "We believe the relaxations should be used by drivers involved in the carriage of essential goods by road; such as for example, the carriage of medical equipment/supplies (including oxygen and clinical waste); and the delivery of essential food and hygiene items (including animal feed and milk collection)."