European Professional Drivers Association
EPDA
Our Associations goal is to develop and support a professional driving culture.
ID: 578809837344-56
Lobbying Activity
Response to Driving and rest times for bus and coach drivers
17 Feb 2021
The recommendation to evaluate the proposition of creating more appropriate rules for passenger transport, especially for occasional services as defined in point 4 of article 2 of Regulation (EC) 1073/2009, should be welcomed. It is appropriate that all stakeholders have their views made known to the Commission on this matter.
Any changes to Regulation 561/2006 as amended by Regulation 2020/1054 should be made in the context of the spirit of the regulations, Good working conditions for drivers, fair business conditions for road transport undertakings and safer roads for all road users.
There are many aspects of the rules on driver’s hours and rest breaks that need to be addressed particularly those on diverging interpretations and enforcement practices in the Member States. Notwithstanding the fact that the road transport industry is struggling to attract professional drivers, the many health studies on the role of the professional driver do nothing to promote the role but actually do the opposite. Therefore, any change to rules should be designed to make the role of the professional driver more attractive to newcomers and to assist in the retention of existing drivers.
To give a clear response to the proposed changes to drivers hours regulations to accommodate the ‘occasional service’, we would like to be given clear examples of circumstances that a driver could be expected to encounter under any suggested changes. From clear examples we can then look to see if there are areas where the change could be manipulated to the detriment of the industry. This process would allow for safeguards to be built into any agreed changes.
From our members knowledge and experience of the role of the professional driver, it is clear that this role is very misunderstood by the many stakeholders involved in road transport industry. It is a term that is very loosely used to describe a worker who carries out a multitude of complex tasks in a very broad spectrum of working conditions and environments. While many are of the mind that the main activity is driving, in actual fact from our research the least stressful aspect of the job is driving and in cases can constitute only thirty percent of working time. Many professional drivers carry out multiple operations in the course of their work which are too many to list here.
Of concern to professional drivers is the manipulation of rules that place additional demands and stresses on the driver, which in turn effects driver safety, the safety of other road users and the long term viability of undertakings. There are undertakings who can use changes to drive down costs and unfortunately at the expense of the wellbeing of the professional driver. Any change to the rules should have protections in place to ensure that the changes cannot be manipulated to serve a purpose not expected under the spirit of the regulation.
There are examples of professional drivers being financially rewarded to take on the role of the driver combined with the role of the tour guide. This is a short term solution to driving down operational costs. These drivers are more prone to road traffic accident as reported by the many professional drivers who have done this work and have since moved job.
To amend professional drivers hours regulations to accommodate a lower cost ‘occasional passenger’ transport service, may or may not be in the interests of the industry as a whole. Only by knowing all of the issues that may arise with such changes can stakeholders make informed opinions known to the Commission.
It is in everyone’s interest to promote passenger transport services, enhance road safety, promote the role of the professional driver and to allow undertakings to operate in a fair and profitable environment. The EPDA will provide every assistance in supporting any change that will enhance the role of the professional driver, provide greater protection for all road users and ensure the viability of undertakings.
Read full response