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Adopted text

Minimum requirements on minimum breaks and daily and weekly rest periods in the occasional passenger transport sector

TA-9-2023-0453 · P9_TA(2023)0453 · PE752.842

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 19 Oct 2026

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Parliament's amended version of a proposed regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 sets more flexible break and rest rules for drivers on occasional passenger services. Drivers may split the required 45-minute break into two breaks of at least 15 minutes each. On journeys of at least 6 days, drivers may postpone the daily rest period by at most 1 hour once, if driving that day has not exceeded 7 hours. National occasional passenger services may also postpone the weekly rest period for up to 12 consecutive 24-hour periods, as international services already can. A digital journey form must be registered electronically before the journey starts, and the Commission should develop a multilingual interface for uploading it. The Commission should assess the rules' effect on working conditions and enforcement two years after adoption, and propose amendments to tachograph rules.

Key points

  1. The amended regulation applies more flexible break and rest scheduling to drivers on occasional passenger services without changing total minimum breaks, maximum daily and weekly driving periods, or maximum working time.
  2. The obligatory break may be split into two breaks of at least 15 minutes each, while respecting the total required minimum rest time of 45 minutes.
  3. On a single occasional passenger service of at least 6 days, a driver may postpone the daily rest period by at most 1 hour once, if total driving that day has not exceeded 7 hours and maximum daily working time is respected.
  4. The previous options to postpone daily rest by 1 hour (up to 7 hours driving) or 2 hours (up to 5 hours driving) are deleted.
  5. Occasional national passenger services may also postpone the weekly rest period for up to 12 consecutive 24-hour periods, as occasional international services can.
  6. A digital journey form with the required information must be electronically registered before the journey starts, in addition to tachograph records and the printout or duty roster.
  7. The Commission should develop a multilingual interface, possibly using the Internal Market Information (IMI) system, for operators to upload digital journey forms accessible during roadside checks.
  8. Books of journey forms should be replaced by electronic journey forms within 6 months of the amended derogation entering into force, and drivers must keep the electronic form available at the roadside.
  9. The Commission should closely monitor use of the weekly rest derogation to preserve road safety and report on its consequences.
  10. The Commission should carry out an assessment report two years after adoption on working conditions, sector attractiveness and enforcement, and consider proposing new measures.
  11. The Commission should submit legislative proposals to amend Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 so smart tachographs offer 'regular passenger service' and 'occasional passenger service' options.
  12. The Commission and member states should promote cooperation with social partners and prepare guidelines for a common approach to applying the regulation across the Union.

Who is affected

  • Drivers on occasional passenger services gain flexibility to split breaks and postpone daily rest under conditions.
  • Operators of occasional national and international passenger services may use the weekly rest postponement and must register digital journey forms.
  • National enforcement authorities check compliance using digital journey forms accessible in real time during roadside checks.
  • The Commission must develop an interface, monitor the derogation, report on the rules and propose tachograph amendments.

Figures and deadlines

  • 45 minutes: total required minimum rest time for the break.
  • Two breaks of at least 15 minutes each may replace the obligatory break.
  • 1 hour: maximum postponement of the daily rest period.
  • 7 hours: maximum total accumulated driving time for the day to use the daily rest postponement.
  • 6 days: minimum duration of the occasional passenger service for the daily rest postponement.
  • 12 consecutive 24-hour periods: maximum postponement of the weekly rest period.
  • 6 months from entry into force: deadline to replace books of journey forms with electronic journey forms.
  • Two years after adoption: deadline for the Commission's assessment report.