Guidance

Temporary relaxation of the enforcement of the EU drivers’ hours rules: delivery of essential items to retailers

Temporary relaxation of the EU drivers’ hours rules for drivers carrying food and essential goods by road.

This publication was withdrawn on

This relaxation ended on 30 December 2020. Information on driver hours, rules plus current exemptions is available.

Documents

Initial notification of relaxation form

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Follow-up notification of relaxation form

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Details

In response to pressures on local and national supply chains, the Department for Transport has, pursuant to Article 14(2) of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006, introduced a temporary and limited urgent relaxation of the enforcement of EU drivers’ hours rules in England, Scotland and Wales.

These temporary relaxations apply from 12:01am on 10 December 2020 until 11:59pm on 30 December 2020, subject to review.

Updates to this page

Published 20 March 2020
Last updated 10 December 2020 + show all updates
  1. Updated guidance to clarify who the relaxation applies to.

  2. Updated guidance with temporary relaxations that apply from 12:01am on 10 December 2020 until 11:59pm on 30 December 2020.

  3. Temporary relaxation of GB drivers' hours rules ended 23:59 Sunday 14 June.

  4. Confirmation of end date for GB hours relaxation.

  5. EU drivers' hours relaxation is ended. GB relaxation continues until 14 June.

  6. Update on the temporary relaxations of EU and GB drivers' hours rules.

  7. Extension of the current relaxations, apart for break derogation in EU rules, until 31 May 2020.

  8. This is an update, following a specific review, confirming the continuation of the current temporary relaxation until 21 April 2020 and including a further minor relaxation of the EU drivers’ hours rules.

  9. First published.

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