Relaxation to drivers' hours rules

A new extension to relax the enforcement of EU Drivers’ Hours rules has been granted for pig movements which adds to relaxations granted this week to hauliers suffering supply chain problems and for the distribution of fuel products.

The Department for Transport has today granted a seven day relaxation – for Scotland only – of EU drivers’ hours and working-time rules for hauliers directly involved in moving pigs between and from commercial pig farms in Scotland and to Scottish abattoirs, to alleviate potential welfare problems that could emerge due to the current weather situation.

The temporary and limited relaxation of enforcement applies immediately and will run until 2359 hours on 24 December.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said:

"Throughout the past few weeks, as Scotland has experienced the worst winter weather conditions at this time of year for almost half a decade, the Scottish Government has been closely and constantly monitoring the situation across the country, including the impact on our agricultural sector.

"We have been in very regular contact with farmers, processors and key industry bodies, to ensure that we were ready to take action if required.

"Hauliers have faced very difficult conditions for the past few weeks, and we have moved quickly to seek relaxations of the enforcement of EU drivers’ rules where it could be shown that this would help alleviate potential supply chain issues.

"The latest relaxation applies to hauliers involved in the movement of pigs between and from commercial pig farms in Scotland and to Scottish abattoirs, and will run until December 24. With the vast majority of Scotland’s commercial pig production being in the north-east, this action will be particularly welcome at this time."

Pig movement is carried out by specialist drivers, with a limited number of vehicles and drivers carrying out this work in Scotland.

For those drivers and work in question, the EU drivers’ hours rules will be temporarily relaxed as follows:-

• Replace the EU daily driving limit of 9 hours with one of 10 hours

• Reduce the daily rest requirements from 11 to 9 hours.

• Lift the weekly (56 hours) and fortnightly driving limit (90 hours).

• Postponing the weekly rest requirement until 23:59 on 24 December, at which stage a driver has to take a normal weekly rest of 45 hours.

• Notwithstanding the postponement of the weekly rest requirement (see preceding bullet point), a driver must take a minimum rest of 24 hours beginning no later than the end of the eleventh day since the end of his last weekly rest period.

The requirement to take a 45 minute break after 4½ hours driving remains and will continue to be rigorously enforced.

The Department for Transport stress that driver safety must not be jeopardised. Drivers should not be expected to drive whilst tired - employers remain responsible for the safety of their employees and other road users.