Mega Trucker:
I remember a time you could drive 10 mins then have 30 mins break then drive 4 hrs and 20 mins and then after another 15 min break you could drive another 4 and a half hours. All legal.
Yep, I remember doing that - and the use of the word ‘break’ is loosely used. cough National Express cough 
We didn’t crash as often then as we are these days though - although I wasn’t HGV then, I was PCV, but didn’t get stuck on the motorways due to ANOTHER truck having a rest on it’s side or in a ditch.
Are the rules really making roads safer?
dri-diddly-iver:
tachograph:
He couldn’t legally do even 5 minutes work booking out without having a break first, crazy isn’t it 
Why? As long as he doesn’t drive he’s ok!
I’m afraid not, legally you should take a 45 minute break immediately after 4½ hours driving unless you’re going onto a rest period.
Article 7 - (EC) 561/2006
After a driving period of four and a half hours a driver shall
take an uninterrupted break of not less than 45 minutes,
unless he takes a rest period.
Page 17 - GV262
After a driving period of no more than 4.5 hours, a driver must immediately take a break of at least 45 minutes unless he takes a rest period.
Well I’d argue that 
if you have no intention of driving i.e. end of shift then it’s away you go. I have often got back on 4.20+ driving time (usually Fri) but we all know it’s different rules on Friday 
So, let’s say if you get to destination on 4.29 drive do other work for 1.00 then have 4.5 break that’s legal?
dri-diddly-iver:
Well I’d argue that if you have no intention of driving i.e. end of shift then it’s away you go. I have often got back on 4.20+ driving time (usually Fri) but we all know it’s different rules on Friday
So, let’s say if you get to destination on 4.29 drive do other work for 1.00 then have 4.5 break that’s legal?
You could drive for 4 hours 29 minutes then work for 1½ hours have a 15 minute break then continue working as long as you don’t drive, but once you’ve accumulated 4½ hours driving you should have a 45 minute break unless you’re going immediately onto a rest period.
Who’d pay the smallest attention to that rule, though? Granted, if your card was staying in the tacho head for whatever reason, you’d have to stick it on break, but if I got back into our yard on 4.5 hours, I’d take the card out, dump my paperwork in the office and ■■■■ off home. Surely no one would sit there on break for 45 minutes before going home?
Rhythm Thief:
Who’d pay the smallest attention to that rule, though? Granted, if your card was staying in the tacho head for whatever reason, you’d have to stick it on break, but if I got back into our yard on 4.5 hours, I’d take the card out, dump my paperwork in the office and ■■■■ off home. Surely no one would sit there on break for 45 minutes before going home?
you’d have to have a 45 then a min of work so it’ll be an extra 46 min cant have a break attached to a rest period… but you already knew that RT
nick2008:
Rhythm Thief:
Who’d pay the smallest attention to that rule, though? Granted, if your card was staying in the tacho head for whatever reason, you’d have to stick it on break, but if I got back into our yard on 4.5 hours, I’d take the card out, dump my paperwork in the office and ■■■■ off home. Surely no one would sit there on break for 45 minutes before going home?
you’d have to have a 45 then a min of work so it’ll be an extra 46 min cant have a break attached to a rest period… but you already knew that RT
Not quite, if you was going straight onto a rest period you wouldn’t need the break anyway.
Also it’s only WTD breaks that can’t be taken at the immediate start or end of the shift not driving breaks
This sort of “angels dancing on the head of a pin” debate illustrates what’s wrong with the driver’s hours regs. What purpose is served by making drivers concerned about frankly irrelevant and ridiculous things such as whether they need to take a break before going home? Why not just let them sod off home, unworried about whether their actions are within the strict letter of the law? Don’t forget, the whole point and purpose of the hours regs is to ensure that drivers are relaxed and well rested.
nick2008:
smart arse
Rhythm Thief:
This sort of “angels dancing on the head of a pin” debate illustrates what’s wrong with the driver’s hours regs. What purpose is served by making drivers concerned about frankly irrelevant and ridiculous things such as whether they need to take a break before going home? Why not just let them sod off home, unworried about whether their actions are within the strict letter of the law? Don’t forget, the whole point and purpose of the hours regs is to ensure that drivers are relaxed and well rested.
To be honest I very much doubt that anyone is concerned about it.
I agree thought hat the regulations could and should have been written differently.