Please can someone explain in layman’s terms bullet pointing the difference between these set of rules and when you should work under which. I thank you.
If you simplify it too much it isn’t actually true. But I’ll have a shot:
Start off under assumption you are under EU rules, as in most situations this would be right.
Now look at page 13 of this businesslink.gov.uk/Transpor … 1111_3.pdf
If you are driving anything that is exempt from EU rules, then you are almost always under domestic rules. See page 26 for more info.
To give a common example, council dust cart collections are not usually under EU rules, but domestic.
The rest of that document does explain it reasonably well.
Unless you are driving a domestic dustcart or a milk tanker on farm collection, then you are probably on EU rules and should use a tachograph.
If you are on farm milk collection or driving a domestic dustcart then you are on UK rules and should use a log book.
There are some other tasks that are ‘EU exempt’ but domestic dustcarts and farm milk tankers are the main ones. If you drive anything on EU rules in a week, then I think you are on EU rules all that week irrespective of whether your other driving is exempt or not.
Your other question was about the differences.
Under domestic rules (which only apply IF you are exempt from EU rules), basically you can drive for 10 hours a day. You don’t HAVE to use a tachograph, but you do need to keep a record of hours worked. It is usually simplest to use a tachograph if fitted to do so.
The above is a simplification to get you started. The link the above post will fill in the rest.
I would add that 99% of the time you don’t need to worry at all about domestic rules, UNLESS you are in a permanent job which falls under them in which case the TM and other drivers will tell you all you need to know.
Ah that makes it easier.
Every time I have occasion to look at the domestic rules for whatever reason, I am always stuck by how relatively simple and clear they are! I don’t think anyone could get confused trying to follow them. Power to Nigel Farage!
They are a good thing to refer to in court cases.
Domestic regs say you can drive 10 hours per day, 7 days a week. No need for a weekly rest.
Then under EU regs it’s 9 hours per day which can be extended twice a week to 10 hours. maximum 56 hours a week or 90 hours in a fortnight. You need a 45 hour rest that can be reduced to 24 hours.
If you break the EU regs you can get a fine or end up in court, You will be classed as a danger to other road users. But if you drive for 70 hours a week, Every week under domestic regs, It’s ok, You’re a safe driver.
th2013:
Every time I have occasion to look at the domestic rules for whatever reason, I am always stuck by how relatively simple and clear they are! I don’t think anyone could get confused trying to follow them. Power to Nigel Farage!
Simple to understand, because the parts in the EU can’t meddle with it, EU hours rules are engineered to make money from the fines.
limeyphil:
They are a good thing to refer to in court cases.
Domestic regs say you can drive 10 hours per day, 7 days a week. No need for a weekly rest.
Then under EU regs it’s 9 hours per day which can be extended twice a week to 10 hours. maximum 56 hours a week or 90 hours in a fortnight. You need a 45 hour rest that can be reduced to 24 hours.
If you break the EU regs you can get a fine or end up in court, You will be classed as a danger to other road users. But if you drive for 70 hours a week, Every week under domestic regs, It’s ok, You’re a safe driver.
It seems obvious that enforcing EU hours regs on British drivers employed on journeys within the country is actually a false interpretation of ( what should be ) the difference between jobs which are subject to domestic regs as opposed to EU ones.If a British driver is always employed on journeys within the borders of the country that should mean that driver is subject to domestic hours regs.
The question is why would the uk government not want to enforce that interpretation of the regs and if the EU doesn’t like it tough instead of co operating with the present erroneous interpretation of the meaning of the word ‘domestic’.