CONTINUOUS DRIVING
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• This is the largest cause of confusion for drivers and operators alike. So, what is the rule and what does it mean? The EC regulation 3820/85 regarding breaks during or after four and a half hours' continuous driving has, since the European Court decision in December 1993, been interpreted as follows: "Article 7(1) and (2) of the Council Regulation (EEC) no 3820/85 of 20 December 1985 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport is to be interpreted as prohibiting drivers to which it applies from driving continuously for more than four and a half hours.
"But, where a driver has taken a 45minute break, either as a single break or as several breaks of at least 15 minutes during driving or at the end of a 4/ hour period, the calculation provided for in article 7(1) of the regulation should begin afresh without taking into account the driving time and breaks previously completed by the driver." As soon as the 45-minute break (or individual breaks totalling 45 minutes) has been reached, then a new period of driving starts afresh even if less than 4/ hours has been driven.