The European Parliament’s plenary adopted the compromise amendments on driving and rest time rules for coach tourism drivers supported by the Parliament’s Transport Committee last month. This vote gears coach tourism drivers, passengers and operators for a positive outcome during the upcoming trilogue negotiations in January 2024, finally giving coach drivers rules meant for their profession, as IRU states in a press release.
Under the proposed amendments supported by the European Parliament’s plenary today, coach tourism drivers will be able to split their 45-minute breaks into two breaks of at least 15 minutes. On journeys that are six days or longer, coach tourism drivers will be able to, once per trip, continue their trip for an additional hour and recuperate their break afterwards. They will also be able to drive longer national tours of up to 12 days, currently only possible during international trips. IRU Director of EU Advocacy Raluca Marian said, “The road transport and tourism sectors are on their way to a big
win during the upcoming trilogue negotiations with the Council and Commission in January and February 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. 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".