www.bifa.org


Policy & Compliance


BIFAlink


drivers who take full weekly rest breaks in cabs outside formal rest areas (service areas and truck stops), including by: • Financial penalty deposits/fixed penalty notices of £300;


• Prohibitions on the driver until the full weekly rest is properly taken – outside the cab or in a formal rest area;


• Reporting operators involved to their licensing authorities, including abroad.


A full weekly rest break (including extended


DVSA to enforce weekly rest period regulations


The Road Haulage Association has highlighted the DVSA’s tougher approach to enforcing penalties on drivers who take breaks in their cabs


BIFA has highlighted the trend for European authorities to more strictly enforce weekly rest regulations. We first reported developments in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany. The main impact has been felt by Eastern European drivers who tend to be away from their bases for long periods. Now the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency


(DVSA) has announced that from 1 November, it has begun tightening up its enforcement of weekend ‘in-cab’ rest. The agency has issued the following guidance


Support your local Member


on how the enforcement will be managed so that operators and drivers are not caught out by the changes. The DVSA noted that there are ongoing and


severe problems with inappropriate weekend parking of lorries in parts of Britain. In line with European law, DVSA is enforcing a ban on lorry drivers taking full weekly rests in cabs on or adjacent to public roads. This will include lay-bys and other public parking places that have no toilet, shower and food facilities. From 1 November, DVSA began to sanction


group BIFA holds Regional Member meetings around the UK and listed right are those due to occur soon. If you would like to attend and find out more about BIFA and what we do, then contact the appropriate Regional Consultant to BIFA. All BIFA Members are entitled and


encouraged to attend their regional meetings however pre-booking with the named contact is essential.


December 2017


Region Anglia


Regional Members’ meeting Gatwick


Regional Members’ meeting Stansted


Regional Members’ meeting London East


Regional Members’ meeting Solent


Regional Members’ meeting Full contact details are shown on page 3 of this issue. 17 Date Tue 5 Dec Tue 5 Dec Thu 7 Dec Thu 7 Dec


compensatory rest being taken for an earlier shortened weekly rest) taken in whole or in part in a cab outside a formal rest area will not be considered a valid full weekly rest break for enforcement purposes. It has been confirmed that only offences occurring after 1 November 2017 will be investigated and penalised. There will be targeted enforcement with other


agencies directed at inappropriate locations, including where the problems are most intense (such as in Kent and on the approaches to certain other ports).


Sanctions DVSA will be influenced by the wider public and safety interest as to what sanctions it deploys, including in considering whether to prohibit driving. The DVSA has advised that it will be checking


driver’s records whilst they are taking rest periods and this will involve their records whilst on mainland Europe. Further details can be obtained from the DVSA. This issue should not be seen in isolation.


There are wider issues such as the posting of workers, mobility package and cabotage regulations all at play, and most importantly under review by the Commission.


BIFA would like to thank the RHA for providing the information on which this article is based.


Time Venue 1000 Holiday Inn, Ipswich Orwell


1230 Air & Cargo Services, Colin Young Crawley


1130 Stansted Airport Ltd Colin Young 1400 DP World, London Gateway Wed 13 Dec 0800 Duke of Wellington Colin Young Paul Newman


BIFA Contact Paul Newman


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20