Late return from a seaside coach trip
You are the driver of a 53-seat coach on a school-organised seaside trip. Duty began at 06:15. You drove 06:30–08:40, took a 45-minute break, then drove 09:25–11:35 to the resort. It is now 14:30. The group leader asks for an extra 90 minutes on the beach before the 2 h 10 min return run. Your vehicle has a digital tachograph and you are on EU rules. You are rostered to start again at 06:00 tomorrow. The weather is fine and the coach is due its safety inspection next week. The group includes 6 children under 12 and two wheelchair users who are not travelling in their chairs today.
1. Using the times given, decide whether you can agree to the extra 90 minutes. Show your calculations.
Read the worked answer
Driving already done: 06:30–08:40 = 2 h 10; 09:25–11:35 = 2 h 10; total 4 h 20. The 45-minute break at 08:40 satisfies the break rule. The long stop 11:35–16:00 also counts as a break. If you leave at 16:00 the return is 2 h 10, arriving 18:10.
- Duty: 06:15–18:10 = 11 h 55, inside the 13-hour window that an 11-hour daily rest allows.
- Driving: 4 h 20 + 2 h 10 = 6 h 30, inside 9 h.
- Daily rest: 18:10–06:00 = 11 h 50, meets 11 h.
So the 90 minutes is acceptable on these figures, provided there is no other work and no delay. Check the weekly driving and reduced-rest count before agreeing.
2. Traffic adds 50 minutes on the return. Recalculate and state what you must do about tomorrow's 06:00 start.
Read the worked answer
Depart 16:00 + 50 min delay = arrive 19:00.
- Duty 06:15–19:00 = 12 h 45, still under 13 h.
- Rest 19:00–06:00 = 11 h exactly, so the 11-hour daily rest is still met.
- Driving remains 6 h 30.
Any further delay pushes the rest below 11 h. A rest of at least 9 h counts as a reduced daily rest, but you may only take three between weekly rests. If you have already used them, you cannot make the 06:00 start; arrange a later start or another driver. A delay that takes duty beyond 15 h (after 21:15) is not permitted at all. Record the actual times and keep the printout.
3. The group leader says 'just skip the break on the way back'. Explain why not.
Read the worked answer
You cannot skip the break. The break rule applies after 4 h 30 of driving; here the long stationary period at the resort already provides the break, so there is nothing to skip. Leaving without ensuring the break is recorded would create a false record and a fatigue risk on the return leg. Passengers are also entitled to a safe, rested driver. If the group pressure continues, explain the legal limit and contact the operator.