FOLLOWING the outbreak of the Omicron Covid-19 variant and pursuant to Article 14(2) of the retained EU Drivers’ Hours Regulation, the DfT has gained the approval of the Secretary of State for Transport to temporarily relax the enforcement of drivers’ hours regulation in England, Scotland and Wales.
The relaxation of the rules reflects the situation arising from increased absence rates in workforces, including the carriage of goods by road and the supply chains.
DRIVERS HOURS
The retained EU drivers’ hours rules can be temporarily relaxed as follows: Either the daily driving limit can be increase from 9 to 10 hours up to four times in a week. All other daily driving limits remain at 9 hours: or replacement of the requirement to take at least two weekly rest periods including one regular weekly rest period of at least 45 hours in a two week period, and an increase to the fortnightly driving limit from 90 hours to 99 hours.
All other Drivers’ Hours rules remain in force unchanged, including the requirement for drivers to take a break period of at least 45 minutes after 4.5 hours of driving.
The relaxation of the rules applies at least until 23.59 on 10 February 2022.
