If I started driving at 8am. stopped at 9am ( 1 hour). got out to pick up bacon butty ( 10 minutes). got back in and drove for 1 hour. stopped to fuel up for 10 mins. drove for 1 hour. stopped for 10 minutes to check trailer as strange noise being made. drove for an hour. stopped for 10 minutes to collect paperwork. how long could I drive for before having to take 45 minute break ?
drive:1hr…1hr …1hr…1hr
other: …10m …10m …10m …10m
29min 59s
Your driving time and working time are two completely unconnected things. Working time starts the minute you clock in or start work. After 6 hours of working time (no matter what you were doing) you would need to take a 30 minute break. This is so even if you haven’t turned a wheel. You driving time only increases when you are driving.
driving time and working time are only added together for the WTD purpose where the combination of both must not exceed 6 hours if no break has been taken
We have recently started using a digi tacho and noticed that whenever you are stopped at lights or in a traffic jam then the tacho records other work rather than driving.
so while driving for an hour, if there are lots of stops for lights then it would look like
drive 12m
work 2m
drive 3m
work 2m
drive14m
work 1m
drive 8m
work 3m
drive 15m
would this be classed as 52minutes driving and 8 minutes work? This is what is shown when downloaded, but just didn’t want to get caught out…
BozLeeds:
Your driving time and working time are two completely unconnected things. Working time starts the minute you clock in or start work. After 6 hours of working time (no matter what you were doing) you would need to take a 30 minute break. This is so even if you haven’t turned a wheel. You driving time only increases when you are driving.
boz, its a 15 minute break after 6 hours. 
no its definitley 30 mins after 6 hours. The europeans stuck their nose in last year and changed the rules again.
below is taken from http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/freight/road/workingtime/rdtransportworkingtimeguidance?page=7#a1029
The European drivers’ hours rules require that after 4½ hours driving, a driver must take a break of at least 45 minutes. This break may be replaced by a break of at least 15 minutes followed by a break of at least 30 minutes each distributed over the period.
The break requirements under the Regulations will affect workers who do a mixture of driving and non-driving work. The rules on breaks will also apply on days when the mobile worker is not travelling.
The Regulations require that:
- mobile workers must not work more than 6 consecutive hours without taking a break,
- if your working hours total between 6 and 9 hours, working time should be interrupted by a break or breaks totalling at least 30 minutes,
- if your working hours total more than 9 hours, working time should be interrupted by a break or breaks totalling at least 45 minutes,
- breaks should be of at least 15 minutes duration.
In the interest of safety, and as a matter of good practice, it is strongly recommended that breaks should be distributed evenly throughout the day.
When taking a break, drivers may not perform anything that might be regarded as “other work” during this period. Breaks taken under these Regulations may be taken at the workstation (typically this means the driver’s cab - but see glossary for fuller definition of this and other terms).
drive 12m
work 2m
drive 3m
work 2m
drive14m
work 1m
drive 8m
work 3m
drive 15mwould this be classed as 52minutes driving and 8 minutes work? This is what is shown when downloaded, but just didn’t want to get caught out…
This is the beauty of the Digi tacho. it only records driving time when your actually driving. and does so in 1 minute chunks. So yes that would go down on your card as 52 minutes driving and 8 mins other work.
You can see how much driving time you have done when moving in the truck by pressing the up or down arrow on your tacho. asuming its a siemens unit. not sure about the Stoneridge, only used one once.[/url]
According to the GURUs on this site it is a minimum 15 mins break at or before the 6 hour point for the mobile workers WTD
ROG:
According to the GURUs on this site it is a minimum 15 mins break at or before the 6 hour point for the mobile workers WTD
that DFT link from BigJon seems to contradict itself more than a politician.
I will stick with Rog and Neil’s explanation, (never thought i would hear myself saying that on TruckNet) 
Wheel Nut:
I will stick with Rog and Neil’s explanation, (never thought i would hear myself saying that on TruckNet)
I just try to remember what coffeeholic said - but I’m still learning
Owner Drivers:
We have recently started using a digi tacho and noticed that whenever you are stopped at lights or in a traffic jam then the tacho records other work rather than driving.
so while driving for an hour, if there are lots of stops for lights then it would look like
drive 12m
work 2m
drive 3m
work 2m
drive14m
work 1m
drive 8m
work 3m
drive 15mwould this be classed as 52minutes driving and 8 minutes work? This is what is shown when downloaded, but just didn’t want to get caught out…
Is there anyone with insider knowledge that can confirm that 52 minutes driving is OK. are there any contacts within vosa can give the official word on this?
I don’t want to have to use the defence on court of - the drivers on truck net said it was OK. As much as I believe you, I am not sure a judge or mrs bell would agree with it…
Owner Drivers:
Owner Drivers:
We have recently started using a digi tacho and noticed that whenever you are stopped at lights or in a traffic jam then the tacho records other work rather than driving.
so while driving for an hour, if there are lots of stops for lights then it would look like
drive 12m
work 2m
drive 3m
work 2m
drive14m
work 1m
drive 8m
work 3m
drive 15mwould this be classed as 52minutes driving and 8 minutes work? This is what is shown when downloaded, but just didn’t want to get caught out…
Is there anyone with insider knowledge that can confirm that 52 minutes driving is OK. are there any contacts within vosa can give the official word on this?
I don’t want to have to use the defence on court of - the drivers on truck net said it was OK. As much as I believe you, I am not sure a judge or mrs bell would agree with it…
Phone VOSA who WILL confirm it for you 
or wait for geebee45 to appear on here and for him to confirm this - He is VOSA 
Owner Drivers:
Owner Drivers:
We have recently started using a digi tacho and noticed that whenever you are stopped at lights or in a traffic jam then the tacho records other work rather than driving.
so while driving for an hour, if there are lots of stops for lights then it would look like
drive 12m
work 2m
drive 3m
work 2m
drive14m
work 1m
drive 8m
work 3m
drive 15mwould this be classed as 52minutes driving and 8 minutes work? This is what is shown when downloaded, but just didn’t want to get caught out…
Is there anyone with insider knowledge that can confirm that 52 minutes driving is OK. are there any contacts within vosa can give the official word on this?
I don’t want to have to use the defence on court of - the drivers on truck net said it was OK. As much as I believe you, I am not sure a judge or mrs bell would agree with it…
If your digi-tacho display says 52 minutes driving, then 52 minutes driving is what it is.
BigJon:
no its definitley 30 mins after 6 hours. The europeans stuck their nose in last year and changed the rules again.below is taken from http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/freight/road/workingtime/rdtransportworkingtimeguidance?page=7#a1029
The European drivers’ hours rules require that after 4½ hours driving, a driver must take a break of at least 45 minutes. This break may be replaced by a break of at least 15 minutes followed by a break of at least 30 minutes each distributed over the period.
The break requirements under the Regulations will affect workers who do a mixture of driving and non-driving work. The rules on breaks will also apply on days when the mobile worker is not travelling.
The Regulations require that:
- mobile workers must not work more than 6 consecutive hours without taking a break,
- if your working hours total between 6 and 9 hours, working time should be interrupted by a break or breaks totalling at least 30 minutes,
- if your working hours total more than 9 hours, working time should be interrupted by a break or breaks totalling at least 45 minutes,
- breaks should be of at least 15 minutes duration.
In the interest of safety, and as a matter of good practice, it is strongly recommended that breaks should be distributed evenly throughout the day.
When taking a break, drivers may not perform anything that might be regarded as “other work” during this period. Breaks taken under these Regulations may be taken at the workstation (typically this means the driver’s cab - but see glossary for fuller definition of this and other terms).
Firstly, that quote from the regulations is worded exactly as it was when they were published so no changes last year.
Secondly, nowhere in that quote does it say you must take a break of 30 minutes before doing more than 6 hours work. I have read those regulations many times since they came out, in the process of answering questions on here and have never spotted this bit which supposedly states 30 minutes must be taken at 6 hours.
- mobile workers must not work more than 6 consecutive hours without taking a break,
Dead simple and straight forward, don’t work more than 6 hours without a break. No one can possibly have any confusion about that. It doesn’t say must not work more than 6 hours without taking a 30 minute break, it simply says a break.
What about a newbie who had never seen these regulations before, they may be wondering how long the break should be, but not to worry as the regulations make this very clear for them.
- breaks should be of at least 15 minutes duration.
There we go, Newbie now knows that 10 minutes won’t do but 15 minutes will, because the regulations clearly state that 15 minutes counts as a break. So if Newbie reaches 6 hours of work he knows he has to take a break and he knows the regulations say a break can be 15 minutes in duration so he can take a 15-minute break to keep himself nice and legal. Very simple and clear with no room for confusion. Again, the regulations only say you must take a break at this point, not how long that break must be and as the regulations later state a break can be 15 minutes, a 15-minute break satisfies the requirement to take a break.
By now Newbie may be wondering if there are any other break requirements for the WTD and another read of the regulations shows him there are.
- if your working hours total between 6 and 9 hours, working time should be interrupted by a break or breaks totalling at least 30 minutes,
- if your working hours total more than 9 hours, working time should be interrupted by a break or breaks totalling at least 45 minutes
All is now clear for Newbie and he realises that having taking 15 minutes break before he exceeded 6 hours he will require another break, or break, depending on how many hours work he clocks up. Now Newbie didn’t really shine at maths when he was a young lad at school but he has no problem working out that if he doesn’t work more than 9 hours he will need another 15 minutes to go with the 15 he has already taken and if he works more than 9 hours he will require 30 minutes. Even the most mathematically challenged person can do 45 or 30 minus 15 and get the correct answer.
Newbie is really getting the hang of these regulations now and has even worked out that if he is working more than 9 hours he could take the 30 minutes he requires as 2 x 15 minute breaks. He is glad he has that all worked out and can stay legal. He admits he was a little worried about what could and could be done but it’s only four little statements that made it all very clear when he read it properly and forgot all the bovine excrement he had heard spouted in truck stops and RDC waiting rooms.
Simon:
If your digi-tacho display says 52 minutes driving, then 52 minutes driving is what it is.
Exactly. That’s the beauty of the digital tacho, it robs a few minutes when you make short moves while queuing, then gives you them back later in a traffic jam. Over the day it all works out nicely. Sorted.
How would that be recorded on an analogue tacho?
52min or more
ROG:
Owner Drivers:
Owner Drivers:
We have recently started using a digi tacho and noticed that whenever you are stopped at lights or in a traffic jam then the tacho records other work rather than driving.
so while driving for an hour, if there are lots of stops for lights then it would look like
drive 12m
work 2m
drive 3m
work 2m
drive14m
work 1m
drive 8m
work 3m
drive 15mIt’s 52 minutes driving and 8 minutes work, simple as that.
would this be classed as 52minutes driving and 8 minutes work? This is what is shown when downloaded, but just didn’t want to get caught out…Is there anyone with insider knowledge that can confirm that 52 minutes driving is OK. are there any contacts within vosa can give the official word on this?
I don’t want to have to use the defence on court of - the drivers on truck net said it was OK. As much as I believe you, I am not sure a judge or mrs bell would agree with it…Phone VOSA who WILL confirm it for you
It’s 52 minutes driving and 8 minutes driving. We go with what the VU or card download / printouts say activity is, unless we can show that the mode switch was used incorrectly, like showing break when you were handballing stuff off the trailer - not that anybody would do that 
I said;
It’s 52 minutes driving and 8 minutes driving
OOOOOOOOOOOOps 
having a senior moment this morning, meant to say; 'and 8 minutes work.