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Latest News10th September 2008 The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) for passenger vehicle drivers is now in forcePassenger transport drivers need to hold a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) in addition to their category D entitlement driving licence.
One of my clients is Delaine Buses Limited of Bourne in Lincolnshire. They have a comprehensive website with a vast array of images from their long history. If you are any kind of bus enthusiast I would recommend a visit to: www.delainebuses.com
The Driver CPC is aimed at improving road safety by providing better qualified drivers to help reduce road casualties. It is also hoped that it will bring an improved professional and positive image to the industry, leading to more people considering the World of buses and coaches as a career path. The Driver CPC periodic training for existing vocational passenger transport drivers requires 35 hours of training. Existing passenger transport drivers have until 10th September 2013 to undertake the periodic training necessary to gain a Driver Qualification Card (DQC). Those not driving for hire or reward ('hobby drivers'), and those holding a community bus permit, are exempt from the requirement. A full list of the exemptions is available by clicking here If you're a professional driver or you operate bus and/or coaches you should know that on 1st January 2008 the drivers hours regulations changed In-scope drivers' must be able to produce at the roadside charts and legally required records for the current day and any completed within the previous 28 calendar days - PLEASE NOTE: if a driver is using a vehicle fitted with an analogue tachograph he/she must be able to produce their digital tachograph driver smart card, if they have been issued with one (even if it's not yet been used to record drivers' hours). New and updated 'Rules on Drivers' Hours and Tachographs' published by VOSA Everyone who is operating or driving within the passenger passenger transport sector, that come within EC drivers' hours regulations, must make sure they've got the latest copy of the the DfT publication - 'Rules on Drivers' Hours and Tachographs - Passenger-carrying vehicles in the UK and Europe'. It was revised at the end of 2007 and is easy to read and full of useful information and examples. Remember, both the operator and the driver of an in-scope vehicle are legally obliged to be aware of the regulations..... and to stick to them!!! To access a free copy online for view and/or download go to:- PSV 375 The Highway Code - essential reading Another 'must read' for all professional bus and coach drivers and in fact everyone that uses the public highway (a book that is sadly very rarely found in the average motorists glovebox) is the Highway Code. A new and updated version was published at the end of 2007 and an online copy can be found at: The New Highway Code The EU Drivers' Hours Regulations On 1st May 2006 a number of additions and replacements to the list of rules and regulations that passenger transport operators and in-scope vocational drivers must adhere to, including the biggest change to the drivers' hours rules in over 23 years - the introduction of the digital tachograph were introduced - (EC) Regulation 561/2006. On 11th April 2007 the above regulation implemented some important drivers' hours changes . Regulation (EC) 561/2006 (Drivers’ Hours) The text of the regulation can be seen by clicking here Regulation (EC) 3820/85 has now been repealed and replaced by Regulation (EC) 561/2006
Regulation (EEC) 3821/85 has been amended to clarify specific obligations on transport undertakings and drivers as well as confirming the official date for mandatory fitment of the digital tachograph vehicle units, which in the UK was 1st May 2006. The text of the regulation can be seen by clicking here
Regulation (EC) No 2135/98 has been amended to enable the use of the digital tachograph to record drivers' hours, specifically the activities of a driver over a 28-day period to be recorded electronically on his personal driver smart card and electronic records of vehicle operations via the digital tachograph to cover a 365-day period to be stored within the vehicle unit. The text of the regulation can be seen by clicking here Key changes brought about by the implementation of Regulation (EC) 561/2006 include:
It had been found that, under the previous Drivers’ Hours Regulation (EEC) No 3820/85, it was legally possible to schedule daily driving periods and breaks to enable a driver to drive for longer than was originally intended. It had previously been acceptable to take breaks in three periods of 15 minutes. This meant that it was legally possible to drive almost 9 hours with only 15 minutes rest. However, the new rules have now been changed so that a driver can now only take a break of AT LEAST 1 X 15 minutes followed by a break of AT LEAST 1 X 30 minute over a 4 and a half hour driving period. Even if the first break period is 20 or even 25/30 minutes it is still a requirement of the legislation that the second break MUST be AT LEAST 30 minutes. There is no longer an opportunity to split the 45 minute break in various ways. It's AT LEAST 15 minutes followed by AT LEAST 30 minutes over the four and a half hour driving period. You can still opt for a 45 minute break at the end of the four and a half hour driving period. The package of changes has brought in an obligatory minimum daily rest of 9 hours for drivers (instead of the previous 8 hours) and an obligatory weekly rest of at least 45 consecutive hours every two weeks.
Every new in-scope vehicle that has entered service since 1st May 2006 must have been fitted with digital tachograph recording equipment (a Vehicle Unit - VU). Drivers operating these vehicles must have been issued with a driver card (issued by DVLA in the UK) and adhere to the additional requirements this new type of recording equipment places upon them.
All drivers, irrespective of what type of recording equipment they are using, shall make available, on request at the roadside by authorised inspecting officers, the current record sheet and those produced/used within the previous 28 calendar days. This additional requirement came into force on 1st January 2008. Article 26 of the Regulation deals with the records the driver must be able to produce, which relates to the current record and those produced for the previous 28 days, which became a legal requirement from 1st January 2008. These periods apply both to analogue and digital records. Records of drivers’ hours, including analogue charts and printouts from digital tachograph vehicle units, must be kept for at least 12 months, in chronological order*, and made easily available for inspecting officers. *Article 26 requires that records and printouts are kept in chronological order. In the case of a damaged Driver Smart Card the regulation requires the driver to print out the details of the vehicle at the start of the journey and enter the details to enable the driver to be identified and signature; at the end of the journey print out the information relating to the period of time recorded by the equipment and again enter details that will identify the driver and signature.
All drivers, irrespective of what type of recording equipment they are using, are expected to record “other work” under: “Periods of availability” must be recorded under the box mode to ensure compliance with the Road Transport (Working Time) Regulations 2005. Article 26 stipulates that 'other work', including work for another employer within or outside the sector, is recorded under the cross hammer symbol shown above and that 'availability' is now recorded under the box symbol.
Bus UK provides a simple to understand 'Guide to EC Drivers' Hours' two sided A4 information sheet to all its retained customers. If you would like a copy, electronically sent in pdf format, please e-mail your contact details to info@busuk.net
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