Drivers' Hours & Tachograph

Under GB/EU drivers' hours rules, what is the maximum period a lorry driver may drive before taking a break?

• A4 hours 30 minutes✓
• B5 hours 30 minutes
• C6 hours
• D3 hours 30 minutes

Answer: A driver may drive for a maximum of 4.5 hours before taking a break of at least 45 minutes. The break can be split into one period of at least 15 minutes followed by one of at least 30 minutes.

What is the normal maximum daily driving time under EU drivers' hours rules?

• A8 hours
• B11 hours
• C9 hours✓
• D12 hours

Answer: The normal daily driving limit is 9 hours. This may be extended to 10 hours no more than twice in any week.

Which symbol on a digital tachograph should a driver select when carrying out other work, such as loading the vehicle?

• AThe crossed hammers symbol✓
• BThe bed symbol
• CThe steering wheel symbol
• DThe envelope symbol

Answer: The crossed hammers symbol records 'other work', such as loading, unloading or vehicle checks. Driving is recorded automatically, but other modes must be selected manually using the mode switch.

After a 45-minute break taken following 4.5 hours of driving, how long may a driver continue to drive before the next required break?

• AA further 2 hours
• BA further 4 hours 30 minutes✓
• CA further 3 hours
• DA further 6 hours

Answer: Once a full 45-minute break is taken, a new driving period of up to 4.5 hours begins. The break resets the driving entitlement rather than the daily total.

Under the assimilated (formerly EU) drivers' hours rules, what is the maximum driving time in a fixed week?

• A48 hours
• B60 hours
• C56 hours✓
• D90 hours

Answer: GOV.UK sets a maximum of 56 hours' driving in a fixed week. 90 hours is the limit over any two consecutive weeks, and 48 and 60 hours are working time figures, not driving limits.

What is the maximum driving time allowed in any two consecutive fixed weeks?

• A100 hours
• B112 hours
• C90 hours✓
• D80 hours

Answer: Drivers must not drive more than 90 hours in any two consecutive weeks. This means a driver who drives the full 56 hours in one week can drive no more than 34 hours in the next.

How often in a fixed week may the 9-hour daily driving limit be extended to 10 hours?

• AOnce in a fixed week
• BThree times in a fixed week
• CFour times in a fixed week
• DTwice in a fixed week✓

Answer: Daily driving is normally limited to 9 hours, but it can be extended to 10 hours no more than twice in a fixed week.

What is the minimum regular daily rest period under the assimilated drivers' hours rules?

• A10 consecutive hours
• B9 consecutive hours
• C8 consecutive hours
• D11 consecutive hours✓

Answer: A regular daily rest period is at least 11 hours. It can be reduced to at least 9 hours, but only three times between any two weekly rest periods.

How many reduced daily rest periods (at least 9 hours) may a driver take between two weekly rest periods?

• AThree✓
• BTwo
• CFive
• DFour

Answer: GOV.UK guidance allows the daily rest to be reduced to 9 hours no more than three times between any two weekly rest periods.

A driver wants to split a regular daily rest period into two parts. Which pattern is allowed?

• AAt least 9 hours first, followed later by at least 3 hours
• BAt least 3 hours first, followed later by at least 9 hours✓
• CTwo separate periods of at least 5 hours 30 minutes each
• DAt least 4 hours first, followed later by at least 7 hours

Answer: A split daily rest must be at least 3 hours followed by at least 9 hours, 12 hours in total. The order matters: the longer part must come second.

How may the 45-minute break required after 4 hours 30 minutes of driving be split?

• AAt least 30 minutes followed by at least 15 minutes
• BThree separate breaks of at least 15 minutes each
• CAt least 15 minutes followed by at least 30 minutes✓
• DAt least 20 minutes followed by at least 25 minutes

Answer: The break may be split into one of at least 15 minutes followed by one of at least 30 minutes, taken in that order within the 4.5-hour period. Reversing the order does not meet the rule.

What is the minimum length of a reduced weekly rest period?

• A45 hours
• B11 hours
• C36 hours
• D24 hours✓

Answer: A regular weekly rest is at least 45 hours; it can be reduced to at least 24 hours every other week, and the reduction must then be compensated.

A driver takes a reduced weekly rest of 30 hours. How must the missing 15 hours be made up?

• AIn one block at any time within the next 12 months, so long as it is recorded manually
• BBy taking a break of 15 minutes extra on each driving day, until the time has been repaid
• CSpread across the next few daily rests in blocks of 1 hour, by the end of the following month
• DIn one block, attached to another rest of 9 hours or more, by the end of the third week following✓

Answer: GOV.UK guidance says a reduced weekly rest must be compensated by an equivalent period taken in one block, attached to a rest period of at least 9 hours, before the end of the third week following the week in question.

Under the drivers' hours rules, when does a fixed week start and end?

• AThe start of the first shift to the end of the sixth shift
• B00:00 on Monday to 24:00 on the following Sunday✓
• CWhenever the driver's last weekly rest period ended
• D00:00 on Sunday to 24:00 on the following Saturday

Answer: GOV.UK defines a fixed week as starting at 00.00 on Monday and ending at 24.00 on the following Sunday. Weekly driving limits are measured against fixed weeks.

How often must the data on a driver's digital tachograph card be downloaded?

• AAt least every 90 days
• BAt least every 28 days✓
• CAt least every 56 days
• DAt least every 7 days

Answer: Driver card data must be downloaded at least every 28 days. Data from the vehicle unit must be downloaded at least every 90 days.

How often must the data held in the vehicle unit of a digital tachograph be downloaded?

• AAt least every 12 months
• BAt least every 90 days✓
• CAt least every 28 days
• DAt least every 14 days

Answer: Operators must download data from the vehicle unit at least every 90 days. The shorter 28-day interval applies to driver cards.

On a journey within Great Britain under the assimilated rules, which records must a driver be able to produce at a roadside check?

• AThose for the current day and the previous 28 calendar days✓
• BThose for the current day and the previous 12 months
• CThose for the current day and the previous 56 calendar days
• DThose for the current fixed week and the fixed week before it

Answer: GOV.UK says drivers must be able to produce records for the current day and the previous 28 calendar days on these journeys. The 56-day figure applies to international journeys to and from the EU.

Your digital driver card is lost. How soon must you report it to DVLA and apply for a replacement?

• AWithin 24 hours
• BWithin 7 calendar days✓
• CWithin 15 calendar days
• DWithin 28 calendar days

Answer: You must report the loss to DVLA and apply for a new card within seven calendar days. You may drive without it for up to 15 calendar days if you make the required printouts.

Under the road transport working time rules, how many hours may a driver work in any single week?

• AUp to 48, with no exceptions in a busy week
• BUp to 90, provided the next week is shorter
• CUp to 60, as long as the 48-hour average is kept✓
• DUp to 56, which matches the weekly driving limit

Answer: The working time rules limit work to an average of 48 hours a week over the reference period, and up to 60 hours may be worked in any single week as long as that average is maintained.

Under the road transport working time rules, what breaks must a driver take if they work more than 6 but no more than 9 hours in a day?

• ABreaks totalling at least 30 minutes✓
• BBreaks totalling at least 45 minutes
• CBreaks totalling at least 20 minutes
• DA single break of at least 60 minutes

Answer: Working between 6 and 9 hours requires breaks totalling 30 minutes; more than 9 hours requires 45 minutes. Each break must be at least 15 minutes long.