Under the Red Tape Challenge, the Government has established an industry working group involving the Department and its agencies, trade bodies and trades unions which agreed for the need to produce simplified guidance in the complex area of the interactions between Drivers hours regulations and the working Time Directive.
James Firth, FTA head of road freight and enforcement policy, said: ‘FTA is delighted to have been asked by the government to lead the way in producing new guidance surrounding drivers times and breaks, and that the association’s 125-year history of providing effective, reliable compliance information to the industry has been recognised.’
FTA stated that drivers’ hours and working time rules are complicated and they continue to be an area in which drivers often pick up fixed penalties at the roadside.
Within the ‘Red Tape Challenge’, Roads Minister Stephen Hammond also unveiled plans to increase the amount of time an operator may leave between downloading data from vehicle tachograph units. The increase from the current 56 days to 90 days will allow some operators to incorporate the process with scheduled vehicle maintenance.
James Firth added: ‘It is significant that the Government has realised the important role that the freight and logistics industry takes in managing their work effectively and efficiently.’
The FTA added that much of the complexities arise from the two regimes which are similar but different, thus demonstrating the administrative burden placed on industry by the working time regulations almost a decade ago.
Firth concluded: ‘FTA is not aware of any evidence to suggest that a driver who is compliant with European driving time rules remains a significant safety risk. It is the view of FTA members that the application of the Working Time Directive to the road transport sector remains the single most burdensome piece of administration applied to the industry today – but since it comes from Brussels, this Red Tape Challenge could do nothing about it. But this guidance will help operators and drivers cut through the complexities for now.’
