The new rules allow drivers to organize their mandatory 45-minute break more flexibly, by splitting it into two breaks of at least 15 minutes.
The European Parliament has taken an important step in supporting the tourist bus sector. Following an earlier approval by the Transport Committee last month, Parliament's plenary has now adopted the compromise amendments covering driving and rest times for coach drivers. This development heralds positive changes for drivers, passengers and coach operators ahead of the trilogue negotiations taking place in January 2024. The new rules are specifically designed for the profession of coach drivers.
Under the proposed changes, coach drivers will be able to divide their mandatory 45-minute break into two breaks of at least 15 minutes. For journeys lasting six days or longer, they may drive an hour longer once per journey and take their break afterwards. In addition, they will have the opportunity to ride national tours of up to 12 days, an arrangement that currently only applies to international trips.
Raluca emphasized the importance of this development: “The road transport and tourism sectors are on the verge of a major victory during the upcoming trialogue negotiations in January 2024. We are now very close to realizing specific rules for coach drivers, instead of the rules which are now more focused on truck drivers. The law should enter into force in the first half of 2024.”
“The current rules harm the well-being of drivers, hold back the European tourism sector and prevent the safest and most environmentally friendly form of collective passenger transport from flourishing. We now look forward to rapid negotiations in the Council that will finally give coach drivers the opportunity to organize their breaks according to the nature of their work and the needs of their passengers. This also includes expanding their national tours to 12 days, with safety always paramount,”
For longer trips, lasting six days or more, the new regulations offer an additional advantage. Drivers are now allowed to drive an hour longer once per journey, provided they compensate for their rest time afterwards. This not only offers drivers more flexibility in their itineraries, but also meets the variable demands of tourist travel.
Carlo Cahn, secretary of Bus Transport Netherlands and director of the umbrella organization Royal Dutch Transport: “This is very good news. For years, coach operators have been fighting against the fact that bus drivers are treated the same as truck drivers. In our industry it is not about driving as much as possible, but rather about being able to drive and take a break when the customer wants. Hopefully this will put an end to the crazy situation where exactly the same driving times apply to transporting a steel beam and transporting people.”
12 days
Another aspect of the amendments is the opportunity for drivers to drive national tours of up to 12 days, an extension that previously only applied to international trips. This change is crucial for the tourism sector as it provides more opportunities for extended domestic travel, which has been limited until now.
"That is great for our foreign colleagues, but it is not of much use to us as a Dutch industry. Twelve-day tours with one group and only in the Netherlands do not occur. We would have preferred to see the restriction to one group loosened. That would be high season has given more flexibility, but again without the driver having to drive more hours"
Currently, the European Regulation for driving and rest times only has one exception for coach drivers. This so-called twelve-day arrangement makes it possible to shorten the weekly rest to one day during a twelve-day trip (normally in such a period there is a rest of approximately two days) and to compensate for this later, so that there are more destinations in a tour. can be affected. Because this arrangement only applies to international transport and only with the same group of passengers, the 12-day arrangement is never applied in the Netherlands. This rule will probably also be applicable in national rides in the future.
IRU
The International Road Transport Union (IRU) is a global organization committed to advancing the interests of road transport, both for freight and passenger transport. The IRU plays a key role in developing standards, promoting safety and sustainability, and supporting economic growth and efficiency within the transportation sector.
