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Safety in road passenger transport depends not only on the condition of the vehicle or the road conditions, but also on the physical and mental state of the driver. For this reason, in the European Union there are specific regulations governing the maximum driving times and mandatory rest periods which professional bus drivers must comply with.
These rules aim to avoiding fatigue at the wheelThe following article explains how to use the new system to reduce the risk of accidents and ensure the protection of passengers. In this article, we explain clearly and on the basis of the Regulation (EC) 561/2006 -in force in Spain how long a bus can drive without stopping y how often the driver should restamong other key aspects.
European legislation establishes a maximum continuous driving limit to ensure the safety of the driver, passengers and other road users.
According to the Regulation (EC) 561/2006a bus driver may not drive for more than 4 hours and 30 minutes in a row without a break. This is the uninterrupted time limit allowed by law before the driver is obliged to stop and rest.
This limit applies to any professional driver operating a vehicle intended for the carriage of passengers by road with more than 9 seats (including the driver).
After reaching the maximum of 4 hours and 30 minutes of continuous driving, the driver must perform a obligatory pausein accordance with the same European regulation.
The minimum required pause is 45 consecutive minutesduring which the driver may not engage in any activity related to driving or work. The rest must be real and effective.
This time is crucial for:
The regulation also allows split the 45-minute break in two tranches, provided that the following conditions are met:
Both breaks must be taken within the period of 4 hours and 30 minutes driving timeand their combination must add up to at least 45 minutes in total.
This system of split breaks offers some operational flexibility, but must be strictly adhered to in order to avoid incurring penalties or jeopardising road safety.
In addition to the maximum continuous driving time, Regulation (EC) 561/2006 also provides for daily, weekly and bi-weekly limits for professional driving.
A bus driver can drive up to 9 hours a day maximum. However, this limit may be extended to 10 hours per day, only twice a week.
Example: a driver may work 10 hours on Monday and Friday, but not more than 9 hours on other days.
The total number of driving hours per week must not exceed 56 hours under no circumstances, even if they are spread over long days.
Within a period of two consecutive weeks, the driver may not exceed 90 cumulative driving hours. This control aims to avoid accumulation of fatigue in the medium term.
All these data must be recorded in a compulsory manner using the digital tachographa device that monitors the driver's activity (driving, breaks, rest and other work). This system is auditable by traffic and transport authorities.
In addition to the intermediate breaks, European regulations provide for rest breaks outside the vehicle for a full recovery of the driver.
Every professional driver must take a minimum daily rest of 11 consecutive hoursafter their working day.
There is one exception: this rest period may be reduced to 9 consecutive hours, up to three times a weekprovided that the weekly rest periods are respected.
Compulsory weekly rest should be of:
These breaks are mandatory, even if the driver does not reach the maximum limit of driving hours in that week.
When there is two drivers on boardThe rules allow for more flexibility. Driving can be alternated and overall route times can be extended, but everyone must comply with their individual breakswithout exception.
| Concept | Duration / Limit |
|---|---|
| Continuous driving | Maximum 4h 30min |
| Pause after continuous driving | 45 min (with split option: 15 + 30 min) |
| Daily driving | Maximum 9 h (10 h, 2 times per week) |
| Weekly driving | Maximum 56 h |
| Bi-weekly driving | Maximum 90 h in two consecutive weeks |
| Daily rest | Minimum 11 h (or 9 h, 3 times per week) |
| Weekly break | 45 h (or 24 h, if compensated later) |
To ensure compliance with current legislation on driving times and rest periods, it is essential to make use of official sources. These are the most relevant:
Consulting these sources on a regular basis is key, as regulations can suffer modifications or adaptations depending on transport conditions in Spain or the European Union.
No. The maximum continuous driving time limit is 4 hours and 30 minutes.after which it is compulsory to make a minimum break of 45 minutesor in two sections (15 + 30 minutes). Exceeding it constitutes an infringement.
There may be financial penalties, loss of driver's points and penalties for the company. In addition, there is an increased risk of accidents due to driver fatigue, which also has legal implications in the event of an accident.
The legal maximum is 9 hours per dayalthough it may extended to 10 hours only twice a week. These times are regulated to prevent fatigue and control the working day.
Yes. The 45-minute break after 4h30m of driving can to be divided into 15 minutes + 30 minutesprovided that both are performed within the total permitted driving period.
Yes, although in services regular urban or short-haulthere may be nuances depending on national regulation. However, rest periods and working hours must be respected equally for all professional drivers.
How many seats does a large bus have?