The RHA has welcomed European Commission drivers’ hours provisional rule changes which will offer more operational flexibility on trips in the EU.
Officials have agreed to changes to the EU’s Mobility Package 1 on driving time and rest rules for coach tourism drivers.
This will allow coach drivers to:
Split their 45-minute breaks.
Postpone their daily rest period by one hour once per trip, provided that the total accumulated driving time for that day has not exceeded seven hours.
Drive longer national tours of up to 12 days, previously only possible during international trips.
Andy Warrender, RHA Operations Manager, Coach Sector, welcomed the move and called on the UK Government to adopt these changes in the UK.
“This is a long-awaited announcement which will be a welcome boost for coach drivers and operators doing tourism work abroad.
“These changes will offer drivers more choices on taking their rest times, and operators more operational flexibility when they’re planning jobs.”
“We’re calling on the UK Government to implement similar improvements and review the current driving and working hours arrangements applicable to journeys wholly within the UK.”
He said the changes in the EU – which are to be ratified – will better reflect the operational differences between freight and coaches.
Meanwhile, the announcement that the Journey Form Authorisations (Waybills) are to be digitalised offers the opportunity for a more streamlined system. We hope that the Interbus arrangements will also follow this path, he added.
The RHA has announced its third National Coach Week. The annual celebration of the coach sector will take place between 8-12 April.
