Research and analysis

Drivers' hours rules: benefits and disadvantages

An exploration into the benefits and disadvantages of the working time and drivers’ hours regulatory frameworks.

• From: Department for Transport
• Published: 13 September 2023

Documents

Research into drivers’ hours and working time

PDF, 1.17 MB, 100 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email webmasterdft@dft.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

The fatigue of drivers of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) is managed, from a regulatory perspective, through:

• limits on the number of hours that a driver may drive
• tasks a driver may undertake other than driving
• requirements for the duration and frequency of rest breaks

In exceptional circumstances, a temporary relaxation of driving time limits and/or rest drivers’ hours regulations can be considered.

This research assesses the benefits and disadvantages that have resulted from these relaxation periods. The specific objectives were to understand the impact that drivers’ hours regulations have on:

• cumulative driver fatigue
• cumulative driver fatigue during periods of regulation relaxation
• road safety, driver welfare and attractiveness of the occupation

The perceived effectiveness of the current processes for industry requests for driver relaxations (including existing guidance), and how this may be adapted for future relaxations, was also analysed.

The research was carried out by TRL Limited on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Published 13 September 2023