48.64. How long must the daily (between shifts) rest period for a driver last within any 24-hour period, counting from the start of the working day (shift)?
UAСкільки має тривати щоденний (міжзмінний) відпочинок водія протягом будь-якого 24-годинного періоду, рахуючи від початку робочого дня (зміни)?
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This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns road safety through the regulation of drivers' work and rest schedules. Sufficient sleep and recovery directly reduce the risks of driver fatigue, decision-making errors, and road accidents, which is why such standards are important to know not only for the theoretical exam but also for daily practice.
The content of the question checks the understanding of the term “driver” in the traffic rules (clause 1.10 of the Traffic Rules) and the ability to apply related regulatory acts that supplement the Traffic Rules of Ukraine. The minimum duration of daily (between-shift) rest is not directly established by the Traffic Rules themselves, but by a special document: the Regulation on Working Time and Rest Time for Drivers of Wheeled Vehicles (clause 5.1, Order of the Ministry of Transport and Communications No. 340). It is there that the requirement for uninterrupted rest within any 24-hour period from the start of the shift is defined.
The analysis of answer options comes down to checking the specific number in the standard: the correct option is the one that corresponds to clause 5.1 and indicates at least 10 consecutive hours of uninterrupted rest. The alternative option of 12 hours does not match the current requirement of this regulation, so it should not be chosen for the theoretical exam, even if such a duration may occur in other work schedules or internal carrier rules.
The practical value of the topic is that the countdown is not “by calendar day,” but from the moment the working day (shift) begins: within any subsequent 24 hours, there must be one continuous period of rest of the established duration. This helps to properly plan trips, shift schedules, and to understand that short breaks during the day do not replace the mandatory between-shift rest.
Clause 1.10 (term “Driver”)
Driver — a person who operates a vehicle and has a driver’s license (tractor driver-machine operator’s license, temporary permit to drive a vehicle, temporary coupon to drive a vehicle) of the appropriate category. A driver is also a person who teaches driving a vehicle while being directly in the vehicle.
The question regarding the duration of daily (inter-shift) rest “at least 10 consecutive hours” is not directly established by any clause of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine; it is regulated by a separate regulatory act — the “Regulation on working time and rest time for drivers of wheeled vehicles” (clause 5.1, Order of the Ministry of Transport and Communications No. 340 dated 07.06.2010).
Therefore, the correct answer is “At least 10 consecutive hours,” given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, a “driver” is a person who operates a vehicle, and the specific minimum duration of daily (inter-shift) rest for drivers is established by a special regulatory act (clause 5.1 of Order No. 340).
When the exam asks about the daily (between-shift) rest period for a driver, it refers to the mandatory uninterrupted recovery time between shifts, which is necessary for traffic safety. This specifically concerns the driver as the person operating the vehicle and being responsible for driving while on the road.
The key part of the question is the wording: “within any 24-hour period, counting from the start of the working day (shift).” This means the count does not start at midnight or by the “calendar day,” but from the moment the driver begins their shift. Within the next 24 hours, the driver must have a scheduled daily rest period.
The rule regarding the duration of such rest is established by the Regulation on Working Time and Rest Time of Drivers of Wheeled Vehicles (point 5.1). It states that the daily (between-shift) rest must be uninterrupted and last at least 10 consecutive hours. Importantly, this time cannot be “assembled” from several short breaks, as the requirement specifically concerns uninterrupted rest.
For example: if a shift starts at 08:00, then by 08:00 the next day, the driver must have, within this interval, one continuous rest period lasting at least 10 hours. Even if there were breaks during the day, they do not satisfy this requirement unless they provide an uninterrupted 10 hours.
Therefore, the correct answer is “At least 10 consecutive hours,” since within any 24-hour period from the start of the shift, the driver must have a daily uninterrupted rest period lasting at least 10 hours.