Tachograph and driving and rest time
The statutory instrument to ensure rested drivers
A tired driver behind the wheel of a heavy vehicle is a serious risk in traffic. To counteract this there are rules about driving and rest time and they are enforced using a mandatory instrument in the vehicle: the tachograph, also called the speed recorder. For the truck mechanic the tachograph is a field where technology, legal requirements and responsibility meet.
§What the tachograph records
The tachograph records the vehicle's speed and distance travelled, as well as the driver's activity over time — when driving, breaks, other work, or rest occur. The modern digital tachograph stores data that can be read during inspection and documents that regulations are observed. In other words, it is both a work tool for the driver and a control document for the authorities.
§Why the rules on driving and rest times exist
The rules set limits on how long a driver can drive at a time, how long breaks must be, and how much daily and weekly rest is required. The purpose is simple: the driver is well-rested and therefore drives safely. Violations can result in fines for both driver and company, and so a properly functioning tachograph is in everyone's interest.
§Inspection and calibration.
A tachograph must be serviced and calibrated at regular intervals and after certain work on the vehicle — to ensure that it measures correctly. The calibration ties the instrument to this particular vehicle's tire size and characteristics so speed and distance are recorded correctly. If you switch to a different tire size or replace components that affect measurement, new calibration may be necessary.
Conditions when working with tachograph
- 01Tachograph inspection and calibration typically require special equipment and authorization.
- 02The calibration is linked to tyre dimension and vehicle characteristics.
- 03Summons
- 04A faulty or uncalibrated tachograph can make a vehicle illegal to use commercially.
- 05Treat the driver's data confidentially and according to applicable rules.
§The mechanic's responsibility
The tachograph is not an instrument you troubleshoot in the same relaxed way as a broken lamp. It is a legal documentation instrument where correct function, calibration, and documentation are part of the vehicle's legality. Know the requirements that apply, stay within your authorization, and document your work — so you help ensure that tired drivers don't drive out onto the road.