Temporary relaxation of the enforcement of the drivers' hours rules: delivery of essential items to retailers

In response to pressures on local and national supply chains, the Department for Transport has introduced a temporary, and limited, urgent relaxation of the enforcement of EU drivers’ hours rules in England, Scotland and Wales.

This temporary relaxation will run until 11:59pm on 30 December 2020.

The relaxation applies to anyone driving within Great Britain under the EU drivers’ hours rules involved in the transport of:

1. Food and other essential goods from ports within Great Britain. This includes driving of mixed loads with a significant content of such goods. Essential goods include category 1 goods. Where transports of other goods are required to enable category 1 goods to be moved out of ports, the relaxation is also applicable.
2. Food and other essential goods for retail, including mixed loads with a significant content of such goods.

For further information please visit the GOV.UK website.