(24 Feb 2016, 10:54 pm)Jamie M wrote What causes a vehicle to be fitted with a tachograph? What are the merits to doing it, or is it under legal obligation?
All vehicles that operate under EU rules must be fitted with tachographs, however, there is a dispensation for UK domestic vehicles that can operate within 50 km of their base.
Some routes are, indeed, less than 50km, however, some operators are dividing-up their routes (no change of driver or vehicle) by changing the destination blind.
At present, these split routes are accepted to be within the letter of the law (if not the spirit) and therefore routes like the Arriva 685 from Newcastle to Carlisle continue to operate without tachographs by changing at Haydon Bridge.
There are also differences in driver's hours and breaks between the EU regulations and UK domestic (non tacho) operations.
There are 3 sets of rules that could apply to your journey:
Rules on Drivers’ Hours and Tachographs
EU (tachograph operation) hours
