A new driving rule will come into place this Thursday (February 10) and will affect lorry drivers and hauliers.
The new rule will introduce new driving hours for drivers that work in the road haulage sector, the Express reports.
Rather than the initial working hours from nine to ten hours four times a week, this will now change to just twice a week instead.
Drivers will also see a return to previous levels of weekly rest period rules.
Affected drivers are expected to take at least two weekly rest periods.
This includes at least one period of rest of 45 hours in two weeks.
This ends the current system where drivers could adapt a new “alternative permissible pattern of weekly rest periods”.
A system where drivers could increase their fortnightly driving limit from 90 hours to 99 hours has also been scrapped.
The relaxation comes to an end on Thursday, February 10 at 11.59pm.
According to the DfT, the initial relaxation was put into place due to the impact of the Omicron coronavirus variant.
This led to increased absence rates and outbreaks in specific workforces with new rules needed to tackle demand.
However, the DfT has warned drivers should “not be expected to drive while tired”.
They also warned employers “remain responsible” for the safety of employers and should “plan for” disruption to supply chains themselves.
They said: “DfT encourages operators facing high work demands or work absences to take urgent measures to secure drivers who have limited or no current work.
“Driver safety must not be compromised.
“Drivers should not be expected to drive while tired.
“Employers remain responsible for the health and safety of their employees and other road users.
“As a general rule, we expect business to plan for and manage the risks of disruption to supply chains.”
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