The 12 hour rule

Right - I fully understand the 6 hour rule - 15 bed within the first 6 hours if working over 6 hours, and then a 2nd 15 bed if working between 6 and 9 - but not at the end of the shift. I keep getting told to take 30 right back on the 5 hour 59 - to satisfy both lots - but what about going over the 9 ■■ can you take the 2 lots of 15 required for 6 -9 and 9 - 12 at the same time, and what is the latest point you could take them to be legal ?

Jenson Button:
Right - I fully understand the 6 hour rule - 15 bed within the first 6 hours if working over 6 hours, and then a 2nd 15 bed if working between 6 and 9 - but not at the end of the shift. I keep getting told to take 30 right back on the 5 hour 59 - to satisfy both lots - but what about going over the 9 ■■ can you take the 2 lots of 15 required for 6 -9 and 9 - 12 at the same time, and what is the latest point you could take them to be legal ?

A driver shall not work (driving = other work added together) more than 6 hours in any period during the shift without taking at least a 15 min break

there is no requirement to take 30 before 9 hours

there are total break requirements for the whole shift depending on how much work was done during that shift

Example using a 15 hour shift and assuming that driving time is less than 4.5 hours for the whole shift
work/drive 6 hours
break 15 mins
work/drive 6 hours
break 15 mins
work/drive 2 hours
break 15 mins
work/drive 15 mins

Another example
work 4 + drive 2 = 6 hours
break 15 mins
work 4 + drive 2 = 6 hours
break 30 mins so that driving time is reset
drive 2 hours
work 15 mins
Total WORKING TIME = 14 hours + 15 mins (Total driving time = 6 hours PLUS Total other work = 8 hours + 15 mins)
Total breaks 45 mins
Breaks needed for driving time = 45 min = DONE
Breaks needed for working time over 9 hours = 45 mins = DONE

Jenson Button:
Right - I fully understand the 6 hour rule - 15 bed within the first 6 hours if working over 6 hours, and then a 2nd 15 bed if working between 6 and 9 - but not at the end of the shift. I keep getting told to take 30 right back on the 5 hour 59 - to satisfy both lots - but what about going over the 9 ■■ can you take the 2 lots of 15 required for 6 -9 and 9 - 12 at the same time, and what is the latest point you could take them to be legal ?

You need to have a break of at-least 15 minutes before exceeding 6 hours working time not within 6 hours working time, in other words you can work up-to 6 hours but then must have a 15 minute break.

  • If your working time is not over 6 hours you do not legally need any breaks.
  • If you’re working more than 6 hours but not more than 9 hours you must have at-least 30 minutes break, this 30 minute break can be split into separate breaks of at-least 15 minutes each, one of which must be taken before exceeding 6 hours working time.
  • If you’re working time is more than 9 hours you must have a break/breaks totalling at-least 45 minutes, this 45 minute break can be separated into breaks of at-least 15 minutes each, you can have this break/breaks at any-time as long as you don’t work more than 6 hours working time at any time in the shift without having a break of at-least 15 minutes.

You will here some people say that you must have a 15 minute break at 6 hours then must have the other 15 minute break before going over 9 hours even if you’re working over 9 hours, that’s nonsense.
Lets say you’re working a 12 hour shift, as long as you do not at any-time go over 6 hours working time without a break of 15 minutes or more you can have the break/breaks whenever you want, the only exception is that as you already know the breaks must not be at the immediate start or end of the shift.

Where they are appropriate driving break count for the RT(WT)R and vice versa, in other words you do not need RT(WT)R breaks and driving breaks.