Roads Minister Stephen Hammond said that the user-friendly guide for professional drivers would be developed to increase clarity and understanding on drivers' hours and working time rules, particularly about when a driver needs to take a break.
In addition the frequency with which digital drivers' hours records must be downloaded from tachographs will be relaxed.
The announcements come as the DfT looks to cut red tape in a number of areas to save drivers and businesses time and money. This includes confirmation of the Autumn Statement announcement that the paper tax disc will be axed, saving business and taxpayers around £14m each year. In addition, drivers and fleets will now be able to make changes to address and vehicle details for vehicle tax online.
In other changes that benefit fleet operators, from 2015 fleets will be able to request electronic vehicle registration documents when they need them, rather than having to store paper copies, saving companies around £3m each year. And fleets and drivers will no longer need to return the insurance certificate if a policy is cancelled mid-term, saving business £29m each year
Finally, drivers will no longer need a paper counterpart to their driving licence, saving them an estimated £8m each year.
The introduction of the new measures is expected to save motorists and businesses £54m in the coming financial year.
Mr Hammond said: ‘Taxpayers have a right to expect Government services to be convenient and uncomplicated. The work we have carried out to remove unnecessary paperwork has reaped real benefits for motorists and businesses.
‘Some of these changes might seem very straightforward but they are helping to make life easier for millions of people. Our work will not stop there and we will continue to look for ways of slashing unnecessary bureaucracy across the transport network and ensuring Government services are customer-friendly.’
The changes form part of the Red Tape Challenge, which was launched in 2011, and can be accessed at www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/home/index/.
