Truck Driver Faces Heavy Fine for 20-Hour Non-Stop Journey Across Europe

The vehicle was stopped during a check carried out on this highway, in Jerez de la Frontera (Los Barrios). By checking the truck’s tachograph, the agents found that the vehicle had been driving for 20 hours and 15 minutes non-stop. If we consider that the driver was going at a speed of 80 km/h, he would have covered a distance of about 1,620 kilometers without interruption, that is, the distance between Madrid and Florence (Italy) or between Barcelona and Amsterdam (Netherlands), analyzes Ok Diario.

Tachographs for trucks have been mandatory in the EU since 2006. They record data such as driving hours, rest periods, speed and distance traveled. By driving as he did, without stopping, the driver violated the European regulation on land transport (ROTT) which provides for a fine of 4,001 euros for this offense, as well as the general regulation on traffic (RGC) which punishes with a fine of 500 euros any offender to this rule.

The non-compliance with the mandatory rest periods for trucks presents a "serious risk" to the safety of other drivers, the Civil Guard said in a note, stressing that the commission of this offense results in the loss of six points on the driver’s license and the immobilization of the vehicle.