The current EU Drivers’ Regulations governing the operation of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) are not fit for purpose.

The current EU Drivers’ Regulations governing the operation of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) are not fit for purpose.

UK lorry driver regulations are outdated and holding us back. They are driving away fresh talent and burning out our current workforce. It is time to change gear. We need a smart, safety-first approach to driver regulations that matches today’s realities, protects everyone on the road and improves driver welfare.”

Jacqueline O’Donovan OBE – Campaign Director & Multi-Award-Winning Safety Campaigner

Our Goal

We are advocating for the removal of EU Drivers’ Regulations for local hauliers.

Removing these regulations will enhance road safety for all users, provide greater flexibility for workers and businesses, improve driver welfare, reduce congestion, have a positive impact on the environment, and stimulate economic growth.

Importantly, this change can be achieved by maintaining the use of the Tachograph equipment and driver cards, along with the Working Time Directive (WTD).

The Challenge

The current EU Drivers’ Regulations governing Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) driver hours of operation are outdated and not fit for purpose.

Action

We’re driving a compelling campaign that makes the case for the removal of unfit driver regulations for local hauliers.

The Outcome

The changes will enhance overall road safety, provide greater flexibility for workers and businesses, improve driver welfare, reduce the environmental impact, and stimulate economic growth.

Lorry Drivers Delivering for You

Lorry Drivers Delivering for You

about us

We are a collective of businesses, road safety experts and stakeholders in the transport and logistics sector.

Jacqueline O’Donovan OBE, our campaign director, is a multi-award-winning safety campaigner. Her focus on improving road safety and reducing transport emissions has already led to significant improvements in UK transport policy. By collaborating with HGV manufacturers, Jacqueline was at the forefront of the redesign of lorry cabs, introducing glazed passenger doors to enhance visibility both for the driver and vulnerable road users both in the construction and waste sector.

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    Tachographs are devices installed in vehicles to record driving speed, distance, and time. They are mandatory for vehicles allowed to carry a weight of over 3.5 tonnes and vehicles built to carry at least nine passengers if the vehicle is used for commercial purposes. Tachographs are used to ensure that employers and their employees abide by the laws relating to drivers’ hours, specifically those regarding the rest period and driving times of drivers.

    The current Drivers’ Hours Framework in the UK is based on an EU law from 2006 which rules that drivers of vehicles over 3.5 tonnes:

    • Cannot exceed 9 hours or 10 hours driving time twice per week.
    • Must take a daily rest period of 11 hours or may take a reduced rest period of 9-11 hours, three times per week.
    • Must take a break of 45 minutes after 4.5 hours of driving.
    • Must not exceed 56 hours of driving in a week.
    • Must take a weekly rest period of at least 45 hours.

    The Working Time Directive (WTD) is a European Union law directive and a key part of European labour law. It sets minimum periods of daily rest, weekly rest, and annual leave, breaks and maximum weekly working time. The directive aims to protect workers from negative health effects due to shift and night work as well as certain patterns of work. Its gives EU workers the right to at least 28 days in paid holidays each year, rest breaks of 20 minutes in a six-hour period, and daily rest of at least 11 hours in any 24 hours. The directive also restricts excessive night work.