New road rules have been introduced which could see motorists have to make changes to their vehicles or they could risk being impacted by fines.
With drivers heading back onto roads after the Christmas and New Year break, thousands of motorists may need to make last-minute changes to their vehicles to meet new requirements.
Drivers of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) should have made changes before the end of 2024 to adhere to terms included in the Drivers’ Hours, Tachographs, International Road Haulage and Licensing of Operators (Amendment) Regulations 2022.
From December 31, 2024, a “full” smart tachograph 2 or “transitional” smart tachograph 2 must be retrofitted into in-scope vehicles with an analogue or digital tachograph undertaking international journeys.
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The new rules were introduced on December 31, 2024, for HGV drivers
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If the vehicle is operating only within the UK, then it can still use the original digital or analogue tachograph that has been fitted.
There had been plans for the smart tachograph 2 to be introduced by August 21, 2023, although some “elements” were not available, prompting the delay.
Tachographs are required in larger vehicles to record information about driving time, speed and distance so motorists follow rules relating to the hours they can work.
Under GB domestic rules, a goods vehicle driver is not allowed to drive for more than 10 hours in a day on a public road or off-road if not during duty time.
Off-road driving counts as duty time if it’s for agriculture, quarrying, forestry, building work and civil engineering.
New rules introduced in 2018 outline that DVSA traffic examiners will start issuing on-the-spot fines for drivers’ hours offences committed in the last 28 days.
If someone consistently breaks the rules around drivers’ hours, they can be slapped with a fine of up to £1,500 in a single check.
Data from the DVSA found that 6,300 drivers’ hours fines were given to lorry drivers between April 2015 and March 2015.
Rules for the European Union are slightly different and must also be followed to avoid fines. In certain situations, vehicles could even be immobilised.
Lorry drivers must take at least 11 hours of rest every day. They can reduce this to nine hours of rest three times between any two weekly rest periods.
They must also take an unbroken rest period of 45 hours every week. This can also be slashed to 24 hours every other week. Breaks totalling at least 45 minutes after no more than four hours and 30 minutes of driving.
Further HGV driving laws will be introduced on August 19, 2025. From this day, a “full” smart tachograph 2 or “transitional” smart tachograph 2 must be retrofitted into in-scope vehicles currently fitted with a smart tachograph 1 that are undertaking international journeys.
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Motorists are required to record their hours on a tachograph
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More tachograph rules are set to be launched in July next year when a “full” smart tachograph 2 or “transitional” smart tachograph 2 must be fitted into newly registered goods vehicles over 2.5 tonnes.