Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 - review of the adopted changes on 15 July 2020

Abstract

The social legislation is a current and political issue in the field of road freight transport. Working conditions for drivers in the EU (including Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland) are governed by Regulation (EC) No 561/2006. Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 - known as the Driving Time Regulation - lays down rules on driving times, breaks and rest periods for drivers of lorries and buses to improve working conditions and road safety. A number of new amendments to this regulation were adopted on 15 July 2020. The aim of this paper is to present the most important changes adopted compared to the previous version of the Regulation. The paper deals with the adopted changes in the following areas: weekly rest periods, secure parking areas, vehicles which are transported by ferry or train and exceeding driving time which may jeopardize road safety. The main purpose of this paper is to summarize and inform researchers, practitioners and all interested parties about the adopted changes in the Regulation, as well as the transport companies responsible for planning and scheduling the working time of drivers and also for preventing unpleasant experiences resulting from possible compliance with the conditions of the Regulation. The adopted changes in Regulation are also illustrated in the figures and table to better understand the differences.