Guidance from VOSA

20-02-07 Guidance from VOSA on new EU Drivers' Hours Rules
The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) is providing guidelines to operators and drivers on the latest amendments to the European Union’s Drivers’ Hours Rules and Regulations governing driving and rest periods for drivers of lorries, buses and coaches. The new rules will come into effect on 11 April 2007.
The Regulation (EC 561/2006) is aimed at maintaining road safety, improving working conditions for vehicle crew and ensuring that transport operations are working to the same rules throughout the road transport sector in Europe.
The new Regulation applies to vehicles with a “Maximum Authorised Mass” exceeding 3.5 tonnes or the ability to carry 10 passengers including the driver. All European Union Member States will be applying the Regulation to vehicles travelling either internationally or solely on journeys within their borders.
The new Regulation also aims to clarify and simplify the existing definitions, driving limits and requirements regarding breaks and rest. As an additional feature, the new rules will enable software developers to write tachograph analysis programmes more easily. Coupled with the introduction of digital tachographs, it will enable employers to more readily analyse records of driving and working time.
VOSA is providing the commercial vehicle industry with a summary of the new rules in the February 2007 issue of VOSA’s quarterly newsletter ‘Moving On’ (see a copy of the poster attached below). The publication including the poster will be available next week on.