(This temporary relaxation applies from MARCH 18th, 2020 and will run until April 16th, 2020. It will apply to those drivers involved in DOMESTIC and INTERNATIONAL transport)
In view of the potential impact of COVID-19 on HGV operations and the importance of the road haulage sector to the national economy and in response to requests from the haulage industry, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) have agreed to allow a temporary and urgent derogation in respect of certain provisions of the EU driving and resting time rules. The derogation will apply to all operators and drivers subject to the EU drivers’ hours and tachograph rules engaged in the carriage of goods (including oil etc.). Further details of this derogation are available on the RSA’s website at https://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Professional-Drivers/Driving-Safely/Driver-Hours/
the following provisions will be temporarily relaxed as follows:
- Derogation to Article 6(3) of Regulation 561/2006: the fortnightly driving limit is lifted from 90 hours to 112 hours.
- Derogation to Article 8(6) of Regulation 561/2006: In any two consecutive weeks a driver shall take at least two reduced weekly rest periods whilst maintaining the rule that a weekly rest period shall start no later than at the end of six 24-hour periods from the end of the previous weekly rest period. There shall be no requirement for compensation or for a regular weekly rest period to be taken.
Appropriate arrangements must be put in place to record any extra driving time being undertaken by drivers resulting from the COVID-19 crisis. Drivers must record on the back of their analogue tachograph charts or digital tachograph printouts (as soon as they finish their daily working period) the reasons and justification why they are exceeding the prescribed limits.
