any where i can find out about domestic rules 
many thanks
google it ,or they will be on this site somewhere
misterg1959:
any where i can find out about domestic rules
Domestic rules are roughly translated to “keep going till you fall to sleep, then have 15 minutes and start again”!
What do you need to know?? I was on busses before HGV’s, and also did recovery, both of these worked on domestic rules…
Well, recover only for a 60 mile (100km) radius
Might know the answer if I know the question?
Section 2:
GB domestic rules
The GB domestic rules, as contained in the Transport Act 1968, apply to most goods vehicles that are exempt from the EU rules. Separate rules apply to Northern Ireland.
Domestic rules exemptions
The following groups are exempt from the domestic drivers’ hours rules: u drivers of vehicles used by the Armed Forces, the police and fire brigade; u drivers who always drive off the public road system; and u private driving, i.e. not in connection with a job or in any way to earn a living.
Domestic driving limits
Driving is defined as being at the controls of a vehicle for the purposes of controlling its movement, whether it is moving or stationary with the engine running, even for a short period of time.
Daily driving In any working day the maximum amount of driving permitted is 10 hours. The daily driving limit applies to driving on and off the public road. Off-road driving for the purposes of agriculture, quarrying, forestry, building work or civil engineering counts as duty rather than driving time.
Day: The day is the 24-hour period beginning with the start of duty time.
Daily duty In any working day the maximum amount of duty permitted is 11 hours. A driver is exempt from the daily duty limit (11 hours) on any working day when he does not drive.
A driver who does not drive for more than 4 hours on each day of the week is exempt from the daily duty limit.
Duty: In the case of an employee driver, this means being on duty (whether driving or otherwise) for anyone who employs him as a driver. This includes all periods of work and driving, but does not include rest or breaks. Employers should also remember that they have additional obligations to ensure that drivers receive adequate rest under health and safety legislation.
For owner drivers, this means driving a vehicle connected with their business, or doing any other work connected with the vehicle and its load.
Drivers of certain vehicles are exempt from the duty but not the driving limit, namely — goods vehicles, including dual purpose vehicles, not exceeding a maximum permitted gross weight of 3.5 tonnes, when used:
u by doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives or vets; 26
SECTION 2: GB domestic rules
u for any service of inspection, cleaning, maintenance, repair, installation or fitting; u by commercial travellers; u by the AA, RAC or RSAC; and u for cinematography or radio and television broadcasting.
Record keeping
You must keep written records of your hours of work on a weekly record sheet. An example of such a sheet is at Annex 3. Operators are expected to check and sign each weekly record sheet.
Record books containing weekly record sheets are not available from The Stationery Office. VOSA (see Annex 4) can provide the names of commercial printers who produce them.
Alternatively, an EU-approved and sealed tachograph may be used to record a driver’s activities while he is subject to domestic drivers’ hours rules. When recording in this manner, and where domestic records are legally required (see flowchart below), all rules on the fitment and use of the tachograph must be complied with (see Section 4 on page 30).
Where a tachograph is fitted to a vehicle subject to the domestic rules but is not used to produce a legally required record, the operator and driver should nevertheless ensure that the tachograph is properly calibrated and sealed. The tachograph does not have to be recalibrated provided the seals remain intact and the vehicle remains out of scope of the EU rules.
Exemptions from keeping records
Some groups are exempt from requirements to keep records under domestic rules on drivers’ hours. Follow the flowchart below to determine whether you must keep records.
- This exemption does not apply to drivers of Crown vehicles that would have needed an ‘O’ licence if the vehicle had not been Crown property. If this is the case, answer ‘yes’ to this question in the flowchart.
** Any off-road driving carried out for the purpose of agriculture, quarrying, forestry, building work, civil engineering or road maintenance does not count towards this total.
Does the driver drive a vehicle that is in the scope of operator licensing on this day?*
START
Yes
Does the driver drive for more than 4 hours on this day?**
No
Yes
No
Does the driver drive outside a 50 km radius of the vehicle’s operating centre on this day?
No
Yes
No records are required by law for that day
Optional records may be used for management purposes
Records are required by law for that day
Drivers must use either log books or tachograph records
27
SECTION 2: GB domestic rules
Emergencies
The GB domestic rules are relaxed in cases where immediate action is needed to avoid:
u danger to the life or health of people or animals;
u serious interruption of essential public services (gas, water, electricity or drainage), of telecommunication or postal services, or in the use of roads, railways, ports or airports; or
u serious damage to property. In these cases the driving and duty limits are suspended for the duration of the emergency.
Records for vehicles carrying postal articles
Tachographs must be fitted and used on all vehicles with a permissible maximum weight in excess of 3.5 tonnes that carry parcels and letters on postal services. Drivers of such vehicles may be exempt from the EU rules on drivers’ hours (see EU rules exemptions) but, if so, must still comply with the UK domestic rules.
Travelling abroad
The GB domestic rules apply only in GB, but you must observe the national rules of the countries in which you travel. The embassies of these countries will be able to assist in establishing the rules that might apply.
For example, German national rules require drivers of goods vehicles between 2.8 and 3.5 tonnes to record details of their journeys in an AETR-style log book. This means that UK drivers have to use the log book when they set out and while driving through the countries on journeys to or through Germany. Copies of these log books can be obtained from the Road Haulage Association (Tel: 01733 263434).
Mixed vehicle types
If it occurs that a driver divides his time driving goods vehicles and passenger vehicles under GB domestic rules, then in any working day or week, if he spends most of his time driving passenger vehicles then the appropriate GB rules for passenger vehicles apply for that day or week.
Working Time Regulations
Drivers who are subject to the UK domestic rules on drivers’ hours are affected by four provisions under the UK’s Working Time Regulations 1998 (as amended).
See Annex 2 on page 46 for more details.