The driving and rest time regulations for drivers are set out in EC Regulation 561/2006. They therefore apply practically throughout Europe for motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 3.5 tonnes or more, or in Germany from a gross vehicle weight of 2.8 tonnes or more.
The most important regulations concern the necessary breaks and maximum driving times.
For example, after a maximum of 4.5 hours, one or more breaks totalling at least 45 minutes must be taken. The breaks may be split, but only according to a specific pattern.
The daily driving time is limited to 9 hours, although it may be extended to 10 hours twice a week. If the driving time is more than 9 hours, the break regulation for the driving time over 4.5 hours applies a second time: you therefore need one or more breaks totalling at least 45 minutes in the last 4.5 hours of driving time.
The weekly driving time is limited to 56 hours, whereby only 90 hours are permitted within 2 weeks.
The regulation also contains numerous other partial and special regulations, which have led to the fact that there are numerous books on this topic that deal with special cases in detail.
If, on the other hand, you drive with 2 drivers who take turns, the uninterrupted driving can be extended considerably.
