May 05 2010
VOSA Compulsory and Prohibitive Rest Periods
This year VOSA have implemented a European law that bans anyone with a full time job, unconnected with their sport, from driving their HGV vehicle (over 7.5 tonnes) at the weekend. This strict EU regulation (Regulation (EC) 561/2006) sets maximum limits on driving hours and rest periods over the period of a week.
There seems to be a lot of confusion over the new rules and the actual legal position. What VOSA are really saying is that if you have a 9-5 job mon-thurs, own a truck over 7.5 tonnes, then you will not be able to drive your horsebox lorry over the weekend despite the fact that your normal job is not driving. If you do drive on one of the days of the weekend, then you have to have a rest period of 45 consecutive hours. You cannot drive for both days.
The horse industry is uniting to fight this new law asking for exclusion for large horseboxes claiming this is recreational use. The Territorial Army has already been successful in achieving an exception.
Mark Lee (Managing Director of Lehel) comments:
As anyone will confirm, if you have been away for the weekend with your family, friends or team mates in a modern Lehel, it’s far from tiring or stressful. I do agree that normal tacho hours should be adhered to but after 4 ½ hours of travel it is not good to stop for 30 minutes or so and water the horses and give them a hay net. I think a couple of short stops suit horses and humans alike.
To suggest that because you have been behind a desk or working on the farm means you cannot drive your truck at the weekend is wrong. If I drive my Lehel/Scania from Ascot to Edinburgh or my BMW it’s less tiring in my Lehel as we travel at lower speeds. You have to navigate in and out of traffic and keep far more focused travelling at 80-90mph than 56 mph.