Drivers' Hours & Tachographs

What is the maximum driving time allowed before a compulsory rest break?

• A6 hours
• B8 hours
• C5 hours 30 minutes of driving
• D4 hours 30 minutes✓

Answer: EU/UK law requires a compulsory 45-minute rest break (or 15+30 mins) after 4.5 hours of continuous driving. This prevents fatigue-related accidents.

What constitutes a break from driving?

• AA 45-minute stop, which has to be taken in one block
• BTime spent loading with the engine off
• CAt least 15 minutes of rest with no driving or work✓
• DSwitching the tachograph to 'rest'

Answer: A break is time used only for recuperation, with no driving or any other work. The 45 minutes needed after 4 hours 30 minutes of driving may be taken in one go or split into at least 15 minutes followed by at least 30 minutes, so a qualifying break lasts at least 15 minutes. DVSA guidance confirms that a break may be taken in a moving vehicle, provided no other work is done.

How long is the mandatory daily rest period?

• A8 hours
• B12 hours
• C11 hours✓
• D10 hours

Answer: Under the assimilated EU drivers' hours rules a regular daily rest period is at least 11 hours. It may be reduced to no less than 9 hours at most three times between any two weekly rest periods, and no compensation is required for those reductions.

What is the maximum driving time in a single week?

• A56 hours✓
• B50 hours
• C60 hours
• D70 hours

Answer: Maximum weekly driving is 56 hours. Over two consecutive weeks, the limit is 90 hours. This is enforced by digital tachographs.

When must a driver take a weekly rest period?

• AWithin 14 consecutive 24-hour periods, if the daily rests have been taken
• BWithin six consecutive 24-hour periods (by day 6) of the end of the previous weekly rest period✓
• COnce in each 21-day period
• DAt the end of each 4-week period

Answer: Under Article 8(6) of Regulation 561/2006, as assimilated into UK law, a weekly rest period must start no later than the end of six consecutive 24-hour periods from the end of the previous weekly rest period. In any two consecutive fixed weeks a driver normally needs at least two weekly rests, one of them at least 45 hours, and any reduced weekly rest must be compensated in one block before the end of the third week following the week in question.

What is a digital tachograph used for?

• ARecording driving time, breaks, rest, and vehicle movement✓
• BMeasuring the vehicle's road speed only
• CTracking fuel consumption
• DMonitoring vehicle temperature

Answer: Digital tachographs automatically record driving time, breaks, rest periods, and vehicle movement. They prevent hours violations and provide data for enforcement.

How often must a driver insert their tachograph card?

• AAt the start of each working week
• BEach time the ignition is turned on
• COnce a month, for the data download
• DOn each driving day when they take over the vehicle✓

Answer: Drivers must use their card on every day they drive, inserting it from the moment they take over the vehicle. It then stays in until the end of the daily working period unless its removal is authorised, for example on a change of vehicle, so it is not re-inserted each time the engine is started.

What is the penalty for exceeding driving hours regulations?

• AA written warning issued by the traffic commissioner only
• BA note placed on the operator's compliance record
• CFines, licence suspension and possible vehicle impounding, depending on severity✓
• DA fine and possible impounding of the vehicle by DVSA

Answer: Exceeding drivers' hours can bring fines, vehicle impounding and licence suspension, with the outcome depending on how serious and how repeated the breach is.

If a driver makes a manual entry on a tachograph, what must they do?

• ARely on the unit's automatic recording
• BSign and date the entry
• CReport it to the transport company
• DBoth B and C✓

Answer: Manual entries must be signed, dated, and reported to the company. The company must keep records for 1 year. Manual entries are now rarely allowed.

What is the difference between rest and breaks?

• ARest is longer and breaks are shorter✓
• BVery little difference
• CBreaks count as working time; rest does not
• DBreaks are recorded on the tachograph; rest is not

Answer: A break is a short pause used only for recuperation: 45 minutes after no more than 4 hours 30 minutes of driving, or 15 minutes followed by 30 minutes. A rest period is much longer: daily rest is at least 11 hours (or 12 hours split into 3 hours then 9 hours, or 9 hours when reduced), and a regular weekly rest is at least 45 hours.

Can a driver split their 45-minute compulsory break?

• AYes, as 30 minutes + 15 minutes
• BYes, as 15 minutes + 30 minutes✓
• CNo, it has to be taken as one continuous block
• DYes, into three 15-minute periods

Answer: The 45-minute break can be split into at least 15 minutes followed by at least 30 minutes, in that order. It cannot be split differently, so 30 minutes then 15 minutes does not complete the break.

What must a driver do if their tachograph driver card becomes damaged, faulty, or is lost or stolen?

• AReport it to DVLA within 7 days, keep manual printouts of activity, and continue driving without the card for up to 15 days✓
• BThe driver can estimate their hours manually
• CThe vehicle must be stopped immediately and left where it stands until a replacement card arrives
• DThe driver can continue without restrictions

Answer: If a driver's tachograph card is lost, stolen, damaged, or malfunctions, they must report it to DVLA (the card-issuing authority) within 7 calendar days, obtain a printout at the start and end of each journey to record activity manually, and may continue driving without the card for up to 15 calendar days while a replacement is issued.

What is the maximum cumulative driving time across two weeks?

• A56 hours
• B100 hours
• C112 hours
• D90 hours✓

Answer: Over two consecutive weeks, the maximum driving is 90 hours. This prevents weekly limits being circumvented by alternating weeks.

How many times can a driver reduce their daily rest to 9 hours (instead of 11) between any two weekly rest periods?

• AOnce
• BUnlimited
• CTwice
• DThree times✓

Answer: Article 8(4) of Regulation 561/2006, as assimilated into UK law, caps reduced daily rests at three between weekly rest periods. Unlike a reduced weekly rest, a reduced daily rest does not have to be compensated.

What must be done with tachograph records?

• ADiscarded after use
• BKept in the vehicle
• CKept by the company for 1 year✓
• DSent to DVLA monthly

Answer: Tachograph records (whether on card or print-outs) must be kept by the transport company for at least 1 year for inspection by authorities.

Can a driver extend their driving time beyond the legal limits simply because they feel able to continue?

• AYes, for emergencies
• BYes, provided the driver still feels alert and rested
• CYes, if the transport manager gives written approval
• DNo, under any circumstances✓

Answer: No. The limits are legal maxima and feeling alert is not a defence. The only departure is Article 12 of Regulation 561/2006, which lets a driver exceed a limit solely to reach a safe stopping place — and it must be recorded on the tachograph with the reason.

What is the purpose of tachograph chart changes or card updates?

• ATracking vehicle location
• BPreventing fraud and ensuring accurate recording of hours✓
• CRecording employment changes and payroll
• DMonitoring fuel consumption

Answer: Tachograph updates prevent fraud and ensure hours are accurately attributed to the correct company and driver.

If a driver is required to remain on call during rest, is this still considered rest time?

• AOnly counts after 2 hours of on-call
• BNo, on-call time is not rest✓
• CPartially counts depending on circumstances
• DYes, fully counts as rest

Answer: On-call time does not count as rest time. The driver must be able to rest uninterrupted to get legal rest.

What is the penalty for operating without a valid tachograph?

• AThe vehicle is seized immediately at the roadside by DVSA
• BLicence revoked
• CFixed penalty notice and potentially serious fine✓
• DMinor fine only

Answer: Operating without a valid/working tachograph results in fixed penalty notices and potentially serious fines under UK traffic laws.

How should a driver record night-time rest in the tachograph?

• AAs driving time
• BAs break time
• CAs rest time✓
• DManually on a form

Answer: Night-time rest is recorded as rest time on the tachograph. This distinguishes it from breaks during the day.

What is considered work but not driving time?

• AChecking the vehicle
• BLoading/unloading cargo
• CVehicle maintenance
• DAll of the above✓

Answer: Work time includes checking, loading, maintenance, and other duties but is different from driving time for regulatory purposes.

Can a driver insert and remove their own driver card in a digital tachograph?

• AYes, the driver inserts and removes their own card✓
• BNo, the transport manager inserts it at the depot
• CNo, it is fitted once by an approved tachograph centre
• DYes, but it is removed at each break and reinserted after

Answer: Drivers handle their own card: it goes into the correct slot from the moment they take over the vehicle and must not be removed during the working day unless that is authorised, such as on a change of vehicle. A driver may use only their own card and must never use anyone else's.

What is the consequence of a driver falsifying tachograph records?

• ACriminal offence with fines and potential imprisonment✓
• BSuspension of the vocational driving entitlement and nothing more
• CInternal disciplinary action by the employer and nothing further
• DA formal warning followed by retraining

Answer: Falsifying tachograph records is a criminal offence. Penalties include significant fines and potentially imprisonment.

If a vehicle crosses international borders, whose driving hours rules apply?

• AThe country of origin
• BEU/UK or AETR rules depending on the route✓
• CThe country of destination
• DWhichever country has stricter rules

Answer: Journeys within the UK or between the UK and the EU follow the assimilated (EU-derived) drivers' hours rules. Journeys from, to or through a country that has signed the AETR Agreement follow the AETR rules instead, and those apply to the whole journey, including any EU countries passed through.

For how many days can a driver continue driving without their tachograph driver card while a replacement is arranged, following its loss, theft, or damage?

• A15 days✓
• B30 days
• C10 days
• D7 days

Answer: If a driver card is lost, stolen, or damaged, the driver may continue driving without it for up to 15 calendar days while a replacement is arranged with DVLA, provided manual printouts of activity are kept for each journey.