Temporary and limited relaxation of the enforcement of driving and rest times for the drivers

Sweden notifed a temporary and limited relaxation of the enforcement of driving and rest times. This relaxation is granted pursuant to Article 14(2) of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006. It will apply to those drivers involved in domestic and international transports.

Start date: 16.03.2020

End date: 14.04.2020

Further information: https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/transport/files/temporary-relaxatio...



Contact information:

Forthcoming




09.04.2020

The Swedish Transport Agency states that Sweden plans to adopt a temporary and limited relaxation on the enforcement of driving and rest times for the drivers of vehicles transporting all types of goods and transport of passengers.

This temporary relaxation applies from 15 April 2020 and will run until 31 May 2020. This relaxation is granted pursuant to Article 14(2) of the EU Regulation 561⁄2006. It will apply to all drivers, irrespective of their nationality, when operating on the Swedish territory.

For the above-mentioned category of drivers, the following provisions will be temporarily relaxed as follows:

- Derogation to Article 6(1) of Regulation 561/2006: replacement of the maximum daily driving limit of 9 hours with one of 11 hours.

- Derogation to Article 6(2) of Regulation 561/2006: replacement of the maximum weekly driving limit of 56 hours with one of 60 hours.

- Derogation to Article 6(3) of Regulation 561/2006: replacement of the maximum fortnightly driving limit of 90 hours with one of 120 hours.

- No derogation to Article 7 of Regulation 561/2006.

- Derogation to Article 8(1) of Regulation 561/2006: reduction of the regular daily rest requirements from 11 to 9 hours.

- Derogation to Article 8(6) of Regulation 561/2006: reduction of the regular weekly rest period from 45 hours to 24 hours.

- Derogation to Article 8(8) of Regulation 561/2006: possibility for the driver to take the regular weekly rest shorter than 45 hours in the vehicle, as long as it has suitable sleeping facilities for each driver and the vehicle is stationary.

Source: Transportföretagen

                                                                                                            

The Sweden government has taken measures introducing social distancing to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Freight transport activities within, to and from Sweden are not impacted by these measures.

As of March 16th, the Swedish Transport Agency is granting a temporary tolerance concerning the enforcement of driving and resting times rules for freight operations according to EU Regulation No. 561/2006. Exemptions in Sweden apply to daily rest time (minimum 9 hours), weekly rest time (minimum 24 hours) and driving time as long as breaks are taken after a maximum of 4,5 hours driving time. Exemptions are valid for 30 days and are valid for all types of transports (i.e. goods, bus and coach), provided that road safety is not affected [be impaired] when transport companies make use of these exemptions.

Sources: SA and Stoneridge Electronics