asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state the Irish regulations regarding daily driving periods for professional drivers; and if these are in any way related to EEC standards.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Professional Driver Regulations.
29.
As the reply contains a tabular statement, I propose with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:—
(a) The Irish law on permitted maximum periods of driving and obligatory periods of rest from driving applies only to large public service vehicles, goods vehicles and the towing units of trailers or semitrailers. It is set out in—
(i) Section 114 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961.
(ii) Article 15 of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations, 1963.
(iii) Road Traffic Act (Variation of Excessive Periods of Driving) (No. 1) Order, 1934 and the Road Traffic Act (Variation of Excessive Periods of Driving) Order, 1936,
(b) The EEC law on the same subject applies only to large public service vehicles and goods vehicles exceeding 3½ metric tons laden weight. The law is contained in Council Regulation (EEC) No. 543/69 of 25th March, 1969 as amended by Regulations Nos. 514/72 and 515/72. The provisions became effective for international traffic on 1st April, 1973; they will apply nationally on 1st January, 1976. The hours of driving and rest periods of drivers of vehicles to which the regulation applies are matters for the Minister for Labour.
|
Driving Periods |
Ireland |
EEC |
|
Permitted maximum period of continuous driving without rest. |
*5½ hours (any two consecutive periods of driving shall be regarded as one unless they are separated by an interval of not less than half-an-hour for rest and refreshment) |
4 hours (The interval between two periods of continues driving must be of at least 30 minutes' duration; this interval may be replaced by 2 intervals of 20 minutes between 3 periods or 3 of 15 minutes between 4 periods of driving) |
|
Permitted maximum period of daily driving |
11 hours in any period of 24 hours, beginning 2 hours after midnight. |
8 hours (but may be extended to 9 hours not more than twice in one week). |
|
Permitted maximum weekly hours of driving |
— |
48 hours per week and 92 hours in 2 weeks. |
|
Rest Periods |
Ireland |
EEC |
|
Obligatory minimum daily rest period |
10 consecutive hours in every period of 24 hours beginning at the commencement of any period of driving. |
11 consecutive hours for goods vehicles and 10 consecutive hours for passenger vehicles. (There are some minor exceptions to this rule). |
|
Obligatory minimum weekly rest period |
24 consecutive hours in any period of 7 days (applies only to drivers of large public service vehicles). |
24 consecutive hours per week which must be preceded or followed by a daily rest period. |
*In Dublin there are certain extensions of the permitted maximum driving periods for Sundays and certain holidays.