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AETR Rules

Introduction

Journeys to or through the countries that are signatories to the AETR Agreement (see list below) are subject to AETR rules. AETR rules apply to the whole journey, including any EU countries passed through.

The AETR rules were aligned with Council Regulation (EEC) 3820/85 in April 1992. Until a further alignment occurs, these will remain in force. Some specialised vehicles are exempt from the rules. For a full list refer to the regulation.

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Breaks and Driving Limits

Breaks
After a period of no more than 4.5 hours of driving, a driver must take a break of at least 45 minutes, unless the driver begins a daily or weekly rest period.
Alternatively, a full 45-minute break can be replaced by two or three breaks of no less than 15 minutes during or immediately after the driving period, so that the total break time adds up to at least 45 minutes in the 4.5 hours of driving. Breaks of less than 15 minutes will not contribute towards the qualifying break time, but neither will they be counted as duty or driving time.
Note: 'Wiping the slate clean' applies (see example under the Rest and Breaks page).

Daily driving limit
The maximum daily driving time is 9 hours, which can be increased to 10 hours twice a week.

Weekly driving limit
The AETR rules define no maximum weekly driving limit. However, a weekly rest period must be taken after no more than six daily driving periods. It is possible to drive up to 56 hours between weekly rest periods (or 58 hours if the six daily periods straddle two 'fixed' weeks).

Fortnightly driving limit
The maximum fortnightly driving time is 90 hours.


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Rest Periods

Daily rest periods A driver's regular daily rest period must be of at least 11 continuous hours. This must be taken within each period of 24 hours after the end of the previous daily or weekly rest period.

Alternatively, 12 hours' daily rest may be spread over the 24-hour period, taken in two or three periods, the last of which must be at least 8 consecutive hours, and all of which must be at least 1 hour.

Drivers may reduce their daily rest periods to no less than 9 continuous hours, although this can be done no more than three times in each fixed week.
Reduced daily rest must be compensated for by an equivalent period by the end of the week following the week when the reductions took place. This compensating rest does not have to be taken in one block, but each piece must be added to another rest period of at least 8 hours.

To summarise, a driver who begins work at 06.00 on day 1 must, by 06.00 on day 2 at the latest, have completed either:

A daily rest period may be taken in a vehicle, provided that it has suitable sleeping facilities and is stationary.

Multi-manning
Where a vehicle is continuously manned by two or more drivers, each driver must have a daily rest period of at least 8 consecutive hours within the 30-hour period that starts at the end of the last daily or weekly rest period. For this rule to apply, there must be more than one driver travelling with the vehicle at all times. If, for any reason, only one driver is left on board the vehicle, then the single driver rules will apply.

Journeys involving ferry or train transport
Where a driver accompanies a vehicle that is being transported by ferry or train, the rest requirements are more flexible. A daily rest period may be interrupted no more than once, but the total interruption should be as short as possible and must not exceed 1 hour in total.
Where the rest period is interrupted in this way:

Time spent on the ferry or train that is not treated as daily rest can be treated as break time.

Weekly rest periods
A driver must start a weekly rest period no later than at the end of six consecutive daily driving periods from the end of the last weekly rest period. The weekly rest period may be postponed until the end of the sixth day if the total driving time over the six days does not exceed the maximum corresponding to six daily driving periods.
Drivers engaged on non-regular international services may postpone their weekly rest up to until the end of the twelfth day, when they must take two consecutive weekly rest periods.

A daily driving period is:

A driver must take a minimum weekly rest period of at least 45 consecutive hours.

Alternatively, a driver can reduce a weekly rest period to a minimum of 36 consecutive hours, if these are taken at base, or 24 consecutive hours if taken away from base. If a reduction is taken, it must be compensated for by an equivalent period of rest taken in one continuous block before the end of the third week following the week in question. The compensating rest must be attached to a separate rest period of at least 8 hours that, at the request of the driver, may be taken at the vehicle’s parking place or the driver’s base.
A weekly rest period that begins in one week and continues into the following week may be attached to either of these weeks.

Unforeseen events
Similar provisions exist under the AETR rules as under EU rules. See Unforeseen events within this section of the site further details.


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Summary of AETR limits on drivers' hours

The current limits on drivers' hours as specified by the AETR rules are summarised in the following table.

Routine Description
Breaks from driving A break of no less than 45 minutes must be taken after no more than 4.5 hours of driving. The break can be divided into two or three periods of no less than 15 minutes during or immediately after the driving period, as long as the total break adds up to 45 minutes.
Daily driving Maximum of 9 hours, extendable to 10 hours no more than twice a week.
Fortnightly driving Maximum of 90 hours.
Daily rest Minimum of 11 hours, which can be reduced to a minimum of 9 hours no more than three times a week. Alternatively, 12 hours' daily rest may be spread over the 24-hour period, taken in two or three periods, the last of which must be at least 8 consecutive hours, and all of which must be at least 1 hour. The rest must be completed within 24 hours starting from the end of the last daily or weekly rest period. Compensation for any reduction must be made by the end of the following week.
Multi-manning daily rest A minimum of 8 consecutive hours of daily rest must be taken within a period of 30 hours
Ferry/train daily rest A daily rest period may be interrupted no more than once to move on or off a train or ferry for not more than 1 hour in total, provided that the interrupted rest period is extended by 2 hours.
Weekly rest A minimum of 45 hours of rest. This may be reduced to 36 hours, or 24 hours if the driver is away from base. Compensation for the reduced rest must be taken in one continuous period before the end of the third week following the week when the reduced rest was taken. Drivers engaged on non-regular international services may postpone their weekly rest up to until the end of the twelfth day, when they must observe two consecutive weekly rest periods.

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AETR - International journeys to certain non-EC countries

Journeys to, or through, the countries listed below are subject to AETR rules and will apply to the whole journey including any EC countries passed through. When driving through a non-EC country not subject to the AETR agreement (such as Iceland), the drivers hours rules of that country must be obeyed.
AETR rules were aligned with the previous EC Regulations in April 1992, it is hoped that alignment with the new regulations will take place in the future.

Source - VOSA

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