The road transport industry is one of the most heavily regulated sectors in the United Kingdom. Compliance with drivers’ hours and rest period regulations is essential for road safety, legal compliance, and avoiding penalties from the DVSA.
Daily Driving Limits
An HGV driver may drive:
- Up to 9 hours per day
- Up to 10 hours per day twice per week
Mandatory Driving Breaks
After a maximum of 4 hours and 30 minutes of driving, a driver must take a total break of 45 minutes.
The break can be split into:
- First break: minimum 15 minutes
- Second break: minimum 30 minutes
The order must be 15 minutes followed by 30 minutes.
Example
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 06:00 – 10:30 | Driving (4h 30m) |
| 10:30 – 11:15 | Break (45 min) |
| 11:15 – 15:45 | Driving (4h 30m) |
Weekly Driving Limits
An HGV driver may drive:
- Maximum 56 hours in one week
- Maximum 90 hours over any two consecutive weeks
Example
✅ Week 1: 50 hours
✅ Week 2: 40 hours
Total = 90 hours (Legal)
❌ Week 1: 56 hours
❌ Week 2: 40 hours
Total = 96 hours (Illegal)
Daily Rest Requirements
Within every 24-hour period, a driver must take:
Regular Daily Rest
- Minimum 11 consecutive hours
Reduced Daily Rest
- Minimum 9 consecutive hours
- Can be used up to three times between weekly rest periods
Split Daily Rest
A regular daily rest period may be split into:
- 3 consecutive hours
- Followed by 9 consecutive hours
Total: 12 hours of rest.
Weekly Rest Requirements
Regular Weekly Rest
- Minimum 45 consecutive hours
Reduced Weekly Rest
- Minimum 24 consecutive hours
- The reduction must be compensated for later in accordance with regulations.
A driver must start a new weekly rest period after no more than six consecutive 24-hour periods from the end of the previous weekly rest.
Working Time Directive (WTD)
In addition to driving hours regulations, HGV drivers must comply with the Working Time Directive:
- Maximum 60 working hours in a single week
- Average working time must not exceed 48 hours per week over the reference period.
- If working more than 6 hours, appropriate breaks must be taken.
Digital Tachograph Requirements
All HGV vehicles covered by drivers’ hours regulations must use a digital tachograph to record:
- Driving time
- Breaks
- Other work activities
- Rest periods
Failure to comply with tachograph and drivers’ hours regulations may result in:
- Significant fines
- Driver prosecution
- Loss of Operator Licence
- Enforcement action by the DVSA
Common Infringements to Avoid
Many drivers receive penalties for:
- Exceeding the 4.5-hour driving limit without taking a break
- Exceeding daily or weekly driving limits
- Incorrect use of tachograph modes
- Failing to complete manual entries
- Taking insufficient daily or weekly rest
- Driving without a valid Driver Card
Conclusion
The key rules every HGV driver in the UK should remember are:
✅ Maximum 9 hours driving per day (10 hours twice per week)
✅ 45-minute break after 4.5 hours of driving
✅ Maximum 56 hours driving per week
✅ Maximum 90 hours driving over two consecutive weeks
✅ Minimum 11 hours daily rest
✅ Minimum 45 hours weekly rest
Following these regulations helps ensure driver safety, legal compliance, and efficient transport operations across the UK road network.