Vote in favour of 12 day rule
A move to re-introduce the 12 day rule into EU drivers hours regulations is one step closer following an almost unanimous vote from the European Parliament (EP), at the beginning of June, to re-instate it.
The final decision now rests with the EU Council of Transport Ministers who must support the Parliament’s move unanimously in order for the rule to be brought back in.
The councillors are due to meet in October and, if they vote in favour of the 12 day rule, it is expected that new legislation will come into force some time during the 2009 holiday season.
The ruling will again allow coach drivers to take a compulsory weekly rest at the beginning of one week and the end of the following week, giving them up to 12 consecutive days on the road.
Since it was abolished, coach drivers can only work six consecutive days on the road before taking a weekly rest period. This has proved damaging for the coach tourism business since its introduction last year as the logistics of running longer coach tours have become much more difficult.