Understanding the EU Driving Rules: Break and Rest Periods for Professional Drivers

Eugene Bulan
Published: 04/11/2024
Understanding the EU Driving Rules: Break and Rest  Periods for Professional Drivers

The European Union has defined clear break and rest rules for transportation workers. The goal is to provide healthy conditions for drivers and safety for passengers. We have compiled those rules below. Check them out!

We hope that this article helps you better understand the European driving laws for driver rest and break times. In case you need further information about them, feel free to refer to the original legal paragraphs from which we obtained this information: European Union laws

Important definitions in driver hours regulations

There are many expressions we have to repeat in this article. We are going to start with a list with their definitions, so you can come back here every time you need.

  • Break: a period when the driver cannot execute any activities related to work.
  • Daily rest: a rest period of at least 11 continuous hours.
  • Reduced daily rest: a rest period of 9 to 11 continuous hours.
  • Fixed week: the period that starts at 00:00 of a Monday and ends at 23:59 of a Sunday.
  • Weekly rest: a rest period of at least 45 continuous hours.
  • Reduced weekly rest: a rest period of 24 to 45 continuous hours.
  • Multi-manning: when there are two drivers working in the bus.

Break times

  • After driving for 4,5 hours, the driver must take a break of 45 minutes minimum.
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  • It is possible that the driver stops driving to do other work activities. In that case, it is necessary to take a break when the total driving time reaches 4.5 hours.
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  • Drivers can divide that break in two parts. After a maximum of 2 hours of driving, the first part must be of at least 15 minutes. Then, after a maximum of 2,5 hours of driving, the second part must be of at least 30 minutes.
parts of break for driver
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Any pauses of less than 15 minutes are allowed, of course, but they will not count in this plan; they are not considered parts of the necessary break.

If there are 2 or more drivers in the bus, the driver can spend that break inside a moving bus. But they must spend that time without any type of work.

EU Driving Hours Rules in a Day

Working hours

  • Drivers can drive for a total of 9 hours in a day. According to the previous topic, they must stop after a maximum of 4,5 continuous hours and take a break of at least 45 minutes.
total travelling time for driver
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total travelling time for driver
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  • Drivers can drive for an extended total of 10 hours in a day only two days in a week. They must take a break after a maximum of 4.5 continuous hours.
weekly limit for driving a bus
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weekly limit for driving a bus
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Daily Rest Periods

  • In a period of 24 hours, the normal situation is to take a daily rest. In the remaining 13 hours, it is possible to drive for up to 9 hours with the necessary break periods. In the rest of the active time, the driver can do other activities.
daily rest period for driver
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  • In a period of 24 hours, the driver can take a reduced daily rest. In this case, they can work for 8 hours, rest for 3 additional hours, and work for 4 more hours. When the driver is driving, they must take the necessary break periods.
daily rest period for driver
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  • The last possibility is to take only one reduced daily rest. In this case, the driver can drive for up to 9 hours with the necessary break times and do other activities in the rest of the active hours. This can only be done 3 times between two weekly rest periods.

EU Driving Hours Rules in a Week

Working hours

  • Drivers can drive for a total of 56 hours in one week. An example of that division that also follows the previous rules is the following.
weekly rest period for driver table
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  • Drivers can drive for a maximum of 90 hours considering two consecutive weeks. An example of that division that also follows the previous rules is the following.
  • Drivers can drive for a maximum of 90 hours considering two consecutive weeks. An example of that division that also follows the previous rules is the following.
weekly rest period for driver table
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Weekly Rest Periods

  • Drivers must take a weekly rest after 6 consecutive workdays at most. This schedule does not need to match calendar dates; the driver can rest in the middle of the week if necessary.
weekly rest period for driver table
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  • In 2 consecutive work weeks, the driver must take two regular weekly rest periods, or one regular weekly rest and one reduced weekly rest.
weekly rest period for driver table
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  • Considering the previous rule, the driver can take a maximum of two consecutive reduced weekly rest periods before taking a new regular weekly rest period.
weekly rest period for driver table
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  • When the driver takes a reduced weekly rest, the company must compensate those hours. The company must add those hours to the next rest period and must do that in a maximum of 3 weeks after the reduction.
full week rest shedule
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Multi-manning

There are situations where two drivers alternate work hours in the bus. In those situations, it is necessary that the two drivers are inside the bus after 1 hour of trip.

In this case, driver A can drive for up to 4.5 continuous hours then switch with driver B. While driver B drives for up to 4.5 continuous hours, driver A must take their break and be available for non-driving activities in the rest of the time.

The optimal possibility of the multi-manning strategy allows a total driving time of 21 hours before the two drivers need to take their daily rest.

multi-manning of rest for drivers
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About the author

Eugene Bulan

Eugene Bulan, CEO of BCS Bus Travel, steers the company with not just a keen business mind but a true traveler's spirit. Managing the ins and outs of the company, his days are often filled with making big decisions, ironing out operations, and ensuring each journey offered by BCS is special and seamless for every traveler. It's not just about numbers for him; it’s about crafting experiences, bringing joy to travelers, and ensuring every bus journey feels like a little adventure.

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