What it is
Regulation 561/2006 sets the driving times, breaks and rest periods for drivers of goods vehicles over 3.5 t and of passenger vehicles with more than nine seats, and it is identical in every EU member state, the EEA and Switzerland.
Compliance is recorded by the tachograph (Regulation 165/2014). Outside the EU the AETR agreement applies with the same core limits.
Where it applies
Every EU member state, the EEA and Switzerland, for vehicles over 3.5 t (and, since 1 July 2026, vans over 2.5 t in international transport or cabotage). National exemptions exist under article 13 (e.g. some local or agricultural traffic) and are not covered here.
What to know
- 01Break: 45 minutes after 4.5 hours of driving, splittable into 15 + 30 minutes in that order (art. 7).
- 02Daily driving: 9 hours, extendable to 10 hours twice a week (art. 6.1).
- 03Weekly driving: 56 hours (art. 6.2); 90 hours in any two consecutive weeks (art. 6.3).
- 04Daily rest: 11 hours, reducible to 9 hours at most three times between two weekly rests (art. 8).
- 05Weekly rest: 45 hours, reducible to 24 hours with compensation before the end of the third following week (art. 8.6).
- 06The regular weekly rest may not be taken in the cab (art. 8.8).
- 07Since 1 July 2026 vans over 2.5 t and up to 3.5 t used in international transport or cabotage are also covered (art. 2.1.aa, added by Regulation (EU) 2020/1054).
Who needs to know it
- Professional drivers, who plan the day around these limits.
- Transport managers and traffic planners, who are liable for the schedules they set.
- Trainers preparing the driver CPC and the transport-manager exam.
An informative summary, not legal advice. Always check the current text of the rule before deciding.