Road transport: Driving, breaks, rest times and tachographs [EU Legislation in Progress]

Written by Damiano Scordamaglia (6th edition, updated on 07.07.2020),

The Driving Time and Tachograph Regulations were adopted to improve drivers’ working conditions and road safety, as well as to enhance compliance with the rules, and competition between road operators. In the context of the European Commission’s 2017 ‘Europe on the move’ package, the current proposal aims to remedy the shortcomings of these regulations, on which a broad consensus has emerged: lack of clarity, non-uniform implementation, insufficient enforcement and a need for strengthened cooperation between Member States and authorities.

In June 2018, Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) adopted its report. After further debate and procedural developments, Parliament adopted its first-reading position on 4 April 2019. The Council, on its side, reached a general approach on the proposal in December 2018, under the Austrian Presidency. After four negotiating rounds, the Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the proposal on 12 December 2019, which was approved by Coreper on 20 December, by a narrow majority, and by the TRAN committee on 21 January 2020. The Council adopted its first-reading position on 7 April, meaning the agreed text will now return to the Parliament for final adoption at second reading. This would put an end to three years of debate on a complex and controversial proposal.

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Road transport: Driving, breaks, rest times and tachographs