§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out in the Official Report the existing laws and practices in the United Kingdom and the EEC, respectively, concerning employees in road haulage, stating specifically what changes he has agreed to make to those extant in the United Kingdom; and what rules apply to drivers' working hours before hours of driving in the EEC.
§ Dr. GilbertThe following table compares the codes in Great Britain and the EEC. Existing provisions for Northern Ireland are similar but not identical to those in Great Britain.
17WThere are also differences in the requirements for record-keeping. EEC law provides for a specific type of control book which differs from that originally specified in Great Britain, though the EEC book has been an optional alternative since April 1973. Moreover, EEC Regulation 1463/70 requires the fitment of mechanical recording equipment to dispense with drivers' written records. No equivalent provision is currently operative in United Kingdom law.
GOODS VEHICLES DRIVERS' HOURS: COMPARATIVE TABLE OF RULES IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IN EEC Great Britain (Transport Act 1968) EEC Regulation 543/69 Maximum Daily Driving Time … 10 hours … … 8 hours (9 hours twice per week). Maximum Continuous Driving Time. 5½ hours (on duty) … 4 hours (including breaks of less than 15 minutes and time on other duties). Maximum Daily Duty Time … 11 hours … … None. Maximum Daily Working Time/Spreadover. 12½ hours … … Only implied limit-see daily rest period. Minimum Breaks … … 30 minutes after 5½ on duty. 30 minutes or 1 hour (according to vehicle) after 4 hours continuous driving. Either break may be taken in parts. Minimum Daily Rest Period … 11 hours (between each working day). 11 hours (in previous 24) reduced to 9 hours or 8 hours twice per week according to whether the driver is at his base or away from it. 10 hours in 27 hours where there are 2 drivers but no sleeper cab. 8 hours in 30 hours where there are 2 drivers with sleeper cab. Rest periods must be taken outside the vehicle except that where there is a sleeper cab, this may be used provided that the vehicle is stationary. Daily Distance Limit … … None … … … 450 km (281 miles) for non-rigid vehicles over 20 metric tons gross with only one driver. Maximum Weekly Driving Time See Duty … … 48 hours (92 hours per fortnight). Maximum Weekly Duty Time … 60 hours … … None.