On 23 March 2026, the Traffic Commissioners released a blog on drivers’ hours, which can be found here: Drivers’ Hours: A Traffic Commissioner’s Perspective on Safety, Compliance, and Responsibility – GOV.UK
The document explains the purpose of drivers’ hours rules in Great Britain, common compliance failures and provides practical advice for both drivers and operators. Below is a quick summary of the information provided.
Purpose of drivers’ hours rules
The drivers’ hours rules exist to:
- Prevent fatigue‑related accidents
- Protect driver welfare through proper rest
- Ensure fair competition
- Maintain public confidence in the transport industry
- Fatigue is highlighted as a major risk, comparable to alcohol impairment.
Types of rules
Drivers may fall under:
- Assimilated (formerly EU) rules
- AETR rules for international driving
- Domestic GB rules, depending on vehicle type and route
- Working time rules in addition to the above
Understanding which rules apply for each journey is essential.
Common compliance failures
Frequent issues include:
- Incorrect or missed breaks
- Exceeding driving limits
- Tachograph misuse (e.g., card removal, failing to download data)
- Incomplete manual entries
- Poor recordkeeping
- Lack of monitoring by transport managers
Expectations for operators
Operators must have:
- Robust written procedures for breaks, rest, recordkeeping and tachograph use
- Regular monitoring of tachograph data with signed reports
- Consistent training and refresher courses
- Clear disciplinary processes for repeated breaches
When things go wrong
Regulatory actions may include:
- Formal warnings
- Conditions or undertakings
- Public inquiries
- Licence suspension or revocation
- Disqualification of transport managers
- Removal of drivers’ vocational entitlements
Actions are based on evidence and the likelihood of future compliance.
Advice for drivers
Drivers should:
- Know which rules apply to each journey
- Use tachographs correctly and make proper manual entries
- Plan routes with breaks in mind
- Understand split breaks and rest periods
- Look after their wellbeing (hydration, nutrition, fatigue reporting)
- Keep clean, organised records
- Stay informed about rule changes
Advice for operators and transport managers
Operators should:
- Provide regular and practical training
- Promote a safety‑first culture
- Plan schedules realistically with built‑in break allowances
- Use compliant fleet management systems and apps
- Regularly audit tachograph data and address patterns
- Maintain logs of issues and corrective actions
Conclusion
Drivers’ hours rules are more than legal formalities. These rules should be viewed as part of a shared responsibility essential to road safety, driver health and fair operation within the transport industry. Effective communication, planning and training across drivers and operators reduces risk and improves compliance.
Our specialist team can support you with compliance awareness so that you do not get caught out by changes. Contact Jared Dunbar today for help.