The Rules in Short
Under retained EU 561/2006 rules (still applied in Great Britain), an HGV driver must take:
- Daily Rest: A minimum 11-hour rest in each 24-hour period (reducible to 9 hours, three times per week between weekly rests)
- Weekly Rest: A regular weekly rest of 45 hours (reducible to 24 hours in alternating weeks, with compensation)
- Breaks: A 45-minute break after 4.5 hours of driving (can be split as 15 + 30 minutes)
These rules are well-known. What is less well-known: where you take that rest also matters.
What DVSA Says About Rest Location
DVSA guidance and tribunal rulings have made clear that rest must be taken "in a safe and appropriate location". This is not just an opinion — it is a regulatory test that examiners apply when reviewing tachograph data and driver welfare during compliance audits.
An unlit lay-by on a country road, blocking a verge, parked across two car spaces in a busy retail park, or in a residential street are all routinely judged inappropriate.
What Counts as "Appropriate"?
DVSA expects rest to be taken in a location that provides:
- Off-road — the vehicle is parked clear of the public highway
- Safe parking — the bay is sized and surfaced appropriately
- Reasonable security — at minimum, lighting and ideally CCTV / fencing
- Toilet access — particularly for rest periods over 11 hours
- Welfare facilities — water, somewhere to eat for longer rest
Truck stops, secure lorry parks, and operator depots all qualify. Service stations qualify. A lay-by usually does not unless it has been specifically designated for HGV rest.
Why It Matters at the Roadside
DVSA can stop any HGV and inspect tachograph data. If recent rest periods show you in inappropriate locations repeatedly, you can expect:
- A roadside report to your operator
- An operator licence review for serial offenders
- A driver conduct hearing if patterns persist
For owner-drivers, this is your own licence at risk. For employees, your operator carries the regulatory weight, but you still have responsibilities.
Weekly Rest is Stricter
The UK has rules — long-debated, controversial — about taking your regular 45-hour weekly rest in the cab. In short:
- Regular weekly rest in the vehicle is prohibited in the UK.
- The driver must have access to suitable accommodation — meaning a bed, ablutions and food away from the cab.
Reduced (24-hour) weekly rest in the cab remains permitted in some cases. Check the latest DVSA guidance for the rules currently in force.
This means for a full 45-hour weekly rest, you need either a hotel, a depot with proper rest accommodation, or a truck stop offering driver accommodation. Lay-by parking does not qualify.
What This Means in Practice
Plan your route around your rest periods. Identify legal, appropriate stops in advance — do not gamble on availability at 21:00 when your hours run out.
Secure lorry parks like ours are designed specifically to meet DVSA's expectations: fenced, monitored, with toilets, showers and hot food. Taking your rest with us is straightforward to defend if challenged.
Call to Book
Reserve a bay in advance and your rest stop becomes a non-issue. Call +44 1480 470 114 or use our contact form.