SPLIT REST
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• I have driven HGVs for many years and know most of the hours and tachograph laws. But I have been told that It Is now legal to take a rest period of less than nine hours every day of the week, as long as I take two or three hours, rest during the day. Is this true?
• It is OK to take a daily rest period in two or three pehods—this has been the law for many years.
Article 8(1) of EC Regulation 3820/85 states that on days when the daily rest period is not reduced, the rest period can be taken in two or three separate periods within the 24 hours. Each period must be at least one hour and one of them must be at least eight hours. When the daily rest is split in this way it must be increased to 12 hours in total.
This split rest can be taken every day of the week.
This concession is particularly useful to drivers who have to park up for a few hours while waiting to load/unload etc. But remember to make sure the short rest periods are shown on your tachograph record as being rest periods—and the vehicle must not be moved during the rest period.