Rules for driving and rest times under EU 561/2006 — continuous driving, breaks, daily and weekly driving time, daily and weekly rest — with concrete limits and worked examples (including ferry/train interruption according to art. 9).
Introduction
Driving and rest times are governed by EU Regulation 561/2006 and apply to vehicles over 3,500 kg. The rules are intended to ensure that you don't drive while tired. They are built around four things: breaks along the way, daily driving time, daily rest and weekly rest.
Breaks en route
Daily and weekly driving time
| Rule | Value | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Daily driving time | max. 9 h (2× per week up to 10 h) | art. 6(1) |
| Weekly driving time | max. 56 t | art. 6(2) |
| Driving time over 2 consecutive weeks | max. 90 t | art. 6(3) |
Rest periods
| Rule | Value | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Daily rest (regular) | min. 11 h | art. 8(2) |
| Daily rest (reduced) | min. 9 h, max. 3× between two weekly rests | art. 8(2)/(4) |
| Weekly rest (regular) | min. 45 h | art. 8(6) |
| Weekly rest (reduced) | min. 24 h (compensated within 3 weeks) | art. 8(6) |
| Weekly rest no later than after | 6 × 24-hour periods | art. 8(6) |
With double manning, each driver must have at least 9 hours of daily rest within a 30-hour window (Art. 8(5)).
Exceptions and exemptions
Not all driving is covered by EU 561/2006. The regulation itself exempts a number of vehicles (art. 3), and member states can exempt further national transport (art. 13). The most well-known is the craftsman exemption.
- 01National exemption catalogue (art. 13): e.g. certain agricultural, postal and utility vehicles within a fixed radius — see the Danish Road Authority's exemption guidance.
- 02The exemptions are exceptions: if in doubt, the main rule applies, and you must use a tachograph.
AETR — driving to and through third countries
If you drive outside the EU/EEA — e.g. to countries that have acceded to the AETR Agreement (UNECE) — the AETR rules apply instead of or alongside EU 561/2006. The rules are very similar (same break and rest time logic), but it is important to know which rule set governs a given trip and that recording happens correctly for the entire route.
Working Time Directive — more than driving time
EU 561/2006 regulates driving time, but total working time is covered by Working Time Directive 2002/15/EC (in Denmark: Act on Working Time for Mobile Workers in Road Transport). This distinguishes between four types of time, each with its own limits in addition to driving and rest time.
- 01Driving time — the actual driving (also covered by 561/2006).
- 02Other work — reading, cargo securing, washing, maintenance, paperwork.
- 03Availability time — waiting time when you don't have control of your time, e.g. ferry or border (does not count as working time).
- 04Break and rest — do not count as working time.
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly working hours (average) | max. 48 h over 4 mths (up to 6 mths under collective agreement) | 2002/15/EF art. 4 og 8 |
| Weekly working hours (single week) | max. 60 t | 2002/15/EF art. 4 |
| Working hours for night work | maks. 10 t pr. 24 t | 2002/15/EF art. 7 |
The night period is typically calculated as 00–04 in the Danish implementation. Note: the 48/60 hour work time ceiling sits on top of the driving and rest time limits — both rule sets must be observed simultaneously.
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