Germany: exceptions to HGV driving bans due to floods

The following federal states have introduced exceptions to the driving ban on Sundays and public holidays and the Saturday driving ban in accordance with Section 1 and 4 (3) FerReiseV. The federal states have either issued a general exemption or are currently refraining from checking and enforcing driving bans.

The exceptions apply only to transports that are directly or indirectly related to the provision of assistance, elimination of the effects of recent storms and the provision of supplies to local communities as well as empty trips in direct connection with these transports.

- Bavaria (up to and including September 26),
- Brandenburg (up to and including November 28, 2021),
- Hesse (up to and including October 3, 2021),
- Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (up to and including September 26),
- Lower Saxony (up to and including August 31),
- North Rhine-Westphalia (up to and including November 30)
- Rhineland-Palatinate (up to and including November 28).
- Saarland (up to and including November 28),
- Thuringia (up to and including November 28)

In Bremen and Hamburg, the above driving bans will not be enforced until further notice.

Exceptions to driving and rest times

1. The following exceptions apply until September 30, for transports related to the provision of aid and elimination of the effects of recent storms.

2. The daily driving time may be extended to 10 hours five times a week (by way of derogation from Article 6, Paragraph 1, Sentence 2 of Regulation (EC) No. 561/2006)
The weekly driving time must not exceed 59 hours (by way of derogation from Article 6 (2) of Regulation (EC) No. 561/2006)

3. A driver can take two consecutive reduced weekly rest periods, provided that at least four weekly rest periods are taken in four consecutive weeks, of at least two must be regular weekly rest periods. Any reduction in the weekly rest period must be compensated for by an equivalent rest period, which must be taken without interruption before the end of the third week following the week in question. If two reduced weekly rest periods have been taken one after the other, the next rest period - to compensate for these two reduced weekly rest periods - must be taken before the following weekly rest period (by way of derogation from Art. 8 (6) of Regulation (EC) No. 561/2006).

It should be noted that an exception may only be used on the condition that it does not impair road safety.

BAG