Tachographs for minibuses
What is a tachograph?
Tachographs have been in use on coaches and lorries within the UK and mainland Europe for many years. The purpose of the tachograph unit was to record an individual drivers' driving activity, including the amount of time spent behind the wheel, distance travelled and the speed of the vehicle whilst it was in use.
All this information was recorded on to a disc or chart which was placed in to the unit at the start of the day by the driver and could record any driving activity within any 24 hour period per disc.
Today the old analogue system has now been replaced by a new digital tachograph unit similar in size to a car radio. The discs or charts have now been replaced by a driver's card similar in size to a credit card which can store driving activities for up to 28 days at a time.
Why do I need to use a tachograph?
European legislation requires many organisations by law to use a tachograph in their minibus to monitor the amount of time their drivers spend behind the wheel on journeys both within the UK and abroad.
The original purpose behind the introduction of tachographs in minibuses was to improve the monitoring of time spent behind the wheel and rest breaks, to improve road safety and to ensure fair competition and harmonisation across Europe.
Every new minibus is fitted with a digital tachograph unit, which if used, comes with a legal requirement to be recalibrated every 2 years.
Are all drivers required to use a tachograph?
Although every new minibus is now built and installed with a tachograph not every driver is legally required to use one or is governed by drivers' hours regulations. To find out if your organisation is legally required to use a tachograph, needs to comply with driver's hours regulations or any other obligations, please see "Are you operating a minibus within the law?"
How does a digital tachograph work?
How do I apply for a driver or company digital tachograph card smart card?
Where can I find digital tachograph downloading equipment?
What are the drivers' hours regulations?
