One More Win for EU Tourist Bus Drivers and Tourism Sector

Photo source: IRU

EU lawmakers adopted this week a set of amendments on driving and rest time rules for tourist bus drivers which were also supported by the European Parliament’s Transport Committee last month.

Among others, the proposed amendments will allow tourist bus drivers to split their 45-minute breaks into two breaks of at least 15 minutes. Additionally, on journeys that are six days or longer, coach drivers will be able to continue their trip for an additional hour and recuperate their break afterwards once per trip. They will also be able to drive longer national tours of up to 12 days, currently only possible on international trips.

Approval of the revised rules, which give tourist bus drivers the choice to organize their breaks based on the demands of their work and the needs of their passengers is scheduled for the upcoming trilogue negotiations in January 2024.

“The road transport and tourism sectors are on their way to a big win during the upcoming trilogue negotiations in January 2024. We are very close to finally giving coach drivers rules meant for their work, not that of truck drivers. The law should go into effect in the first half of 2024,” said International Road Transport Union (IRU) Director of EU Advocacy Raluca Marian.

“The current rules are harming coach drivers’ wellbeing, holding back Europe’s tourism sector, and preventing the safest and most environmentally friendly form of collective passenger transport from prospering,” she added.

The IRU is a global road transport organization, which upholds the interests of bus, coach, taxi and truck operators to ensure economic growth and prosperity via sustainable mobility of people and goods by road transport.