4.5 Policy For The Hours Of Driving On University Business

There are EU rules on the number of hours that a person can work and drive. Where a driver also spends time undertaking other work activity, such as lecturing, besides driving the total hours worked must be considered as a factor when planning the total driving time within any 24 hour period. No working day should exceed thirteen (13) hours.

The Daily Driving Limit

No driver should drive for more than a total of 9 hours (which can be increased to 10 hours twice a week) in any 24 hours.

The EU rules require a rest period of 45 minutes or 2 or 3 rest stops, of not less than 15 minutes each that total 45 minutes, must be taken during any 4.5 hour period.

The University policy requires in the addition that no driver must drive continuously for more than 2.5 hours without a break of at least 15 minutes. To comply with EU rules this means

for a 2.5 hour driving period, then

15 minute break, followed by

another 2 hour driving period,

then 30 minute break

Hence the driving regime for a single driver should be:-

2.5 hours driving

15 minute break

2 hours driving

30 minute break

2.5 hours driving

15 minute break

2 hours driving

30 minute break

Total 9 hours driving, 1.5 hours cumulative break period

How Should Breaks From Driving Be Taken?

During any break a driver must not drive or undertake any other work. If the vehicle has two drivers sharing the driving, then one is permitted to take a break whilst the other drives. Rest periods of less than 15 minutes do not count towards the statutory accumulated break requirement of 45 minutes.

Daily Rest Period

In each 24 hour period, a driver must have a minimum daily rest period of 11 consecutive hours. This may be reduced to 9 hours not more than 3 times a week, as long as the reduction is compensated by an equivalent total period of rest before the end of the following week.

Revised October 2008