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Driving Regulations & Rules - GB & EU

Many drivers spend time driving under one set of rules and offer time under another set of rules and sometimes even mix their driving on the same day. 

If a driver works partly under EU/ AETR rules and partly under GB domestic rules during a day or a week, the following points must be considered (the EU rules take precedence over the GB domestic rules): 

  • The time spent driving or on duty under EU/ AETR rules cannot count as a break or rest period under GB domestic rules 
  • Driving and other duties under GB domestic rules, including non-driving work in another employment, count as other work but not as a break or rest period under EU/ AETR rules 
  • Driving or other duties under EU/ AETR rules count towards the driving and duty limits under GB domestic rules 
  • Any driving under EU/ AETR rules in a week means that a driver must take a daily rest period on those days when actually driving under EU/ AETR rules, as well as a weekly rest period 

Driving Limits 

The GB domestic limit which is a maximum of 10 hours of driving a day, must always be obeyed but if at any time there is driving under the EU/ AETR rules, a driver must obey all the rules on EU driving limits. 

Other Duty Limits 

The GB domestic limit of no more than 11 hours on duty, must always be obeyed, but when working under EU/ AETR rules a driver must also obey all the rules on breaks, daily rest (only on those days when actually driving) and weekly rest. 

Rest Periods & Breaks 

A driver must always obey the EU/ AETR rules on rest periods and breaks on days and weeks in which any driving in the scope of EU/ AETR rules is carried out. 

A weekly rest period is not required in a fixed week where a driver does not drive under EU/ AETR rules. 

Where a driver works under EU/ AETR rules in week one and under GB domestic rules in week two, the driver may take either a regular or a reduced weekly rest in the first week. 

If the driver takes a reduced weekly rest, compensation will be required by the end of the third week following the week in question. If this working pattern continues, the driver may take either a regular or reduced weekly rest period every other week. 

Where a driver works under GB domestic rules in week one and the EU/ AETR rules in the second week, the weekly rest required in week two must start no later than 144 hours (6 x 24 hours periods) following the commencement of duty on or after 00.00 hours on Monday. 

Records 

On any day where both EC/ AETR and GB domestic driving take place, records must be kept in accordance with EC/ AETR requirements and recording any GB domestic work in accordance with the principles set out at the start of this section. Additionally if any ‘other work’ takes place but prior to any EC or GB domestic driving since the last daily or weekly rest period (taken in accordance with either the EU drivers’ hours or working time rules) this must be recorded as ‘other work’ on a tachograph chart, printout or manual entry using the manual input facility of a digital tachograph. 

‘Other work’ means all activities which are defined as working time in Article 3(a) of Directive 2002/15/EC except ‘driving’, including any work for the same or another employer, within or outside of the transport sector. 

These records must be available for inspection, along with any other EC/ AETR records, including a driver card for the current day and for any day when EC/ AETR driving has taken place in the previous 28 calendar days.

On a day where only one type of driving takes place (either EU/ AETR or GB domestic) then a driver should refer to the particular record-keeping requirements detailed in the relevant section of this booklet.