(12 Mar 2015, 1:18 pm)tvd wrote Surely there are reasons why long routes like the X93 were required to be tachographed, and you'd think with all the splitting of routes which goes on these days, sooner or later VOSA or whoever will clamp down on this loophole?
If you can just operate a route of any length by just saying 'Via X and Y for Z' then why would any operator bother with tachos?
A legally cleared loophole - the EU brought in the 50km (30-ish miles) regulation for Coach work across the EU but it also effected Bus Services here in the UK by effectively an accident. As such, the DfT put legal guidance out for operators to get round the accidental restriction by splitting a long route into 2 or 3 secitions - moving drivers off the EU hours (4hr 30mins maximum driving time before a meal break plus more complexed rest day guidelines etc) onto domestic hours which can improve situation such as delays on X93 to the point where drivers won't be going over their hours if delays occur.