24th March 2026
In commercial road transport, few regulations are as vital to public safety and operational integrity as the rules governing drivers' hours.
As Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain, our statutory role is to ensure that operators and drivers uphold the highest standards of safety, compliance, and professionalism. Drivers' hours rules are essential safeguards against fatigue, unfair competition, and risk to life. However, there is no research to support that 4 ½ hours is a safe period to drive. The rules aim to prevent operators competing on the basis of driving for longer but actual driving and rest periods need to be based on an analysis of risk taking account of factors such as the type of driving, time of day and the driver's health and personal situation.
This blog explores how drivers and operators might approach the drivers' hours framework, the expectations we place on operators and transport managers, and the consequences of non-compliance. It is written to help operators understand our perspective and to promote a culture of proactive compliance.
Why do we have them?
The drivers' hours rules exist to:
Protect road safety by preventing fatigue-related accidents.
Safeguard driver welfare, ensuring adequate rest and working conditions.
Ensure fair competition by preventing operators from gaining advantage through unlawful practices.
Maintain public confidence in the HGV and PCV industries.
Fatigue is a silent killer on our roads. Studies show that tiredness can impair driving ability as severely as alcohol. The rules are designed to mitigate this risk by enforcing structured rest and break periods.
Where do the rules come from?
There are several sets of rules that drivers must follow. The domestic drivers’ hours rules in Great Britain (GB), working time rules, Assimilated rules (previously called EU rules) and The European Agreement Concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles Engaged in International Road Transport (AETR) rules on drivers’ hours, breaks and rest.
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Most driving falls under what are known as the EU Rules - now called the Assimilated Rules. If vehicles travel internationally, then AETR regulations apply - and these are almost identical to the EU rules. If your work is exempt EU, then domestic rules apply. There are separate limits on working time.
Find the basics at Drivers’ hours: HGV driver basics and Drivers’ hours: Bus and coach driver basics.
DVSA has a longer guide to them here.
Where does the Traffic Commissioner fit in?
As Traffic Commissioners, we are responsible for:
Granting and regulating operator licences
Assessing transport manager competence
Conducting public inquiries into non-compliance
Taking regulatory actions where necessary
We take a proactive approach to regulating the industry, focusing on education, prevention, and proportionate response. Our decisions are guided by statutory documents and case law, and by our commitment to public safety.
What common compliance failures do we see?
Despite guidance, we frequently encounter breaches of drivers’ hours rules. These include:
Failure to Take Breaks
Drivers miscalculate or split breaks incorrectly. For example, taking 20 + 25 minutes instead of the required 15 + 30 minutes.
Exceeding Driving Limits
Poor route planning or pressure to meet delivery deadlines can lead to breaches of daily or fortnightly limits.
Tachograph Misuse
Not downloading data frequently enough
Removing cards mid-shift
Using vehicles without inserting the driver card
Recordkeeping Failures
Missing manual entries - especially for occasional drivers
Lost or damaged printouts
Failure to reconcile discrepancies
Lack of Oversight
Transport managers failing to monitor infringements or take corrective action.
When drivers’ hours breaches are brought up in a public inquiry, it often seems like operators and drivers view these rules as something to try to only pay lip service to in a hope to ‘get ahead’, whereas, fundamentally, they are for protecting everyone.
What do we expect from operators?
We expect a high level of understanding of the rules.
Read the full details at
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/drivers-hours-a-traffic-commissioners-perspective-on-safety-compliance-and-responsibility