Driver duties, rest periods, tachograph and working time
Domain focus
This section tests EU driving and rest rules, the tachograph and working-time duties for CE drivers. It is about records and limits, not just hours behind the wheel.
Core rules
- Under Regulation (EC) 561/2006, daily driving is normally 9 hours, extendable to 10 hours twice in a week. Weekly driving is 56 hours, and driving in two consecutive weeks must not exceed 90 hours.
- After 4.5 hours of driving, take a 45-minute break. It can be split into at least 15 minutes followed by at least 30 minutes. The break must interrupt driving; loading or paperwork is not a break.
- Daily rest is normally 11 hours, reducible to 9 hours no more than three times between weekly rests. A regular weekly rest is 45 hours; a reduced weekly rest is at least 24 hours and must be compensated.
- The smart tachograph records driving, other work, availability and rest. The driver card is personal and must not be used by another driver. Manual entries are required where records are incomplete.
Worked example
A driver has driven 4 hours 30 minutes. Taking 30 minutes' break is insufficient because the first part of a split break must be at least 15 minutes and the second at least 30 minutes. A valid split is 15 minutes' break, then later 30 minutes' break, with no driving between the two parts other than the permitted interruption sequence.
Traps
Calling a loading stop a break; splitting the 45 minutes as 20 + 25; forgetting weekly-rest compensation; and using another driver's card to move the vehicle.