EU driving time rules in a nutshell

Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 sets driving and rest rules across the whole EU. Knowing these limits is fundamental: road inspections rely on tachograph data, and penalties are counted per violation.

Daily and weekly driving limits

• Daily driving time: maximum 9 hours; may be extended to 10 hours twice a week.
• Weekly driving time: maximum 56 hours.
• Total driving over two consecutive weeks: maximum 90 hours.

Breaks and rest periods

• After 4.5 hours of driving — a break of at least 45 minutes (may be split 15 + 30, in that order).
• Daily rest: regular 11 hours; reduced 9 hours allowed at most 3 times between weekly rests.
• Weekly rest: regular 45 hours; reduced minimum 24 hours with mandatory compensation.
• The regular weekly rest (45 h) must not be taken in the vehicle cab.

What the Mobility Package changed

The Mobility Package tightened the rules for international transport. For a driver, three things matter most:

• Right of return: your employer must schedule work so you can return to base or home every 3–4 weeks.
• No regular weekly rest in the cab — the company must provide suitable accommodation.
• Second-generation smart tachographs record border crossings automatically, which makes posting checks easier for inspectors.

In practice: how to avoid violations

• Plan the day backwards: from the time you must start your rest, not from the departure time.
• Remember country entries on the tachograph after crossing a border.
• Document minor violations with a printout and a note (traffic jam, full car park) — every annotation counts during an inspection.
• Download your driver card regularly; the obligation is the company’s, but it is you who travels with the history on the card.