GB Domestic drivers’ hours

• Drivers must not drive for more than ten hours in any one day.
• Drivers must not be on duty for more than 11 hours in any one day.
• Drivers must record their hours on a weekly record sheet or on a tachograph.

EU rules

• Drivers must not drive more than nine hours in a day – this can be extended to 10 hours twice a week or,
• Drivers must not drive more than 56 hours in a week or 90 hours in any 2 consecutive weeks.
• The EU Rules remain valid in the UK despite Brexit.

Exemptions to GB Rules.

Under GB Domestic rules, a driver who does not drive for more than four hours on each day of the week is exempt from the daily duty limit for the whole week.

You do not need to follow the GB domestic rules if you:

• are dealing with an emergency – for example, a major disruption to public services or danger to life (this only applies while you’re dealing with the emergency)
• are using the vehicle for private driving and not for work
• drive off-road or on private roads during duty time
  drive a vehicle used by the armed forces, police or fire brigade

EU rules also require:

• at least 11 hours rest every day – this can be reduced to nine hours rest three times between any two weekly rest periods.
• an unbroken rest period of 45 hours every week – this can be reduced to 24 hours every other week.
• a break or breaks totalling at least 45 minutes after no more than four hours 30 minutes driving.
• weekly rest after six consecutive 24-hour periods of working, starting from the end of the last weekly rest period taken.

Some vehicles are exempt from EU Rules when driven in the UK including vehicles below 3.5t GVW. This means most vans are exempt and will need to use the GB domestic rules unless they are towing.

For more information, including exemptions, please visit: www.gov.uk/drivers-hours/goods-vehicles