It sets out minimum rules for the organisation of working time for drivers supplementing Regulation (EC) 561/2006, which lays down common rules on drivers’ driving times and rest periods.
The rules of the directive apply to all ‘mobile workers’ in the service of a business established in an EU country to perform road transport activities. It also applies to self-employed drivers.
‘Working time’ includes:
A maximum working week is set at 48 hours; however, this can be extended to 60 hours as long as an average of 48 hours per week is not exceeded over a 4-month period.
Drivers must not work more than 6 hours without a break. Such breaks must last no less than 30 minutes when a driver works between 6 and 9 hours in a day.
This is in addition to the provisions of Regulation (EC) 561/2006, which sets a maximum driving limit of 4.5 hours without a break or rest.
The rules of Regulation (EC) 561/2006 on rest are maintained by this directive. Drivers must take daily and weekly rest periods.
Where a night shift is worked, a maximum of 10 hours can be worked in any 24-hour period.
A 2014 Commission report analysed the implementation of the directive and of the regulation in 2011-2012. It found certain improvements in the application of the legislation. However, the incompleteness and inconsistency of EU countries’ submissions prevented an in-depth analysis of the effect on road safety or on the health and safety of drivers. The European Commission noted that it would launch a comprehensive evaluation of the functioning of social legislation in road transport.
It has applied since . It had to become law in the EU countries by .
A 2008 Commission proposal to modify the directive to exclude self-employed drivers and to enhance its enforcement was rejected by the European Parliament. The directive initially covered only mobile workers employed by a transport company. Since March 2009, it has covered all drivers who fall in the scope of the regulation on driving times, breaks and rest periods.
For more information, see:
Directive 2002/15/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of on the organisation of the working time of persons performing mobile road transport activities (OJ L 80, , pp. 35-39)
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