Car Breakdown Recovery EU Rules 60miles max so relay recovery required. Is this true?

martinlewisfanclub

Happy New Year!
I (almost) needed recovery from Cumbria to destination Scotland. I was told by recovery mechanic that he could only take me 60 miles due to new EU laws and would have to unload us and transfer us on to another vehicle and so on for the whole journey. I didn't need recovery in the end; it was my wiper motor which failed and as it was a beautiful day, he suggested I got there with a several stops to clean windscreen which I did.
However, as this was the 2nd recovery bloke, the 1st called him as he was too busy to take the 150 odd mile trip to Scotland, he knew what was required so he ought to have been "rested" enough for the trip if that's the crux of the rule. I'm worried now, as I often travel between London and Scotland and have recovery cover just in case of times like this. I use Britannia via CSMA. Is his a true interpretation of the law? I certainly didn't get any hint of this from the 1st mechanic who would have been delighted to take us but had 4 other call outs to attend.

vikingaero

The new law is something that if a recovery agent operates more than 60 miles from base then the vehicle is subject to be fitted with a tacho and associated hours regulations. Whereas before if you holidayed in Scotland you could theoretically be driven in one hit by a fresh driver from Scotland back home to say London. Now the drivers have to observe breaks and it is more likely that several drivers would relay you back home. This will substantially increase recovery times as on each leg of the relay the vehicle would have to be transferred and also the wait for a driver to return from a job or start a shift. It's more likely that for long trips you'll be sent home by taxi/train/bus/coach and your vehicle will follow later.

martinlewisfanclub

Thanks for your prompt reply, vikingaero. Do you think I might be better considering a different type of breakdown cover, eg AA/RAC to ensure a smoother transfer/ tachos installed etc. I think the 2nd guy mentioned tachos and said independents wouldn't be turning out for long hauls now as they wouldn't want tachos fitted etc. Said they'd soon all be out of the recovery business.
I posted my first thread following a browse on the forum re pros and cons of different types of assistance/cost. I'm not so worried about breakdown around home.

Conor_3

It makes absolutely no difference as they all have to abide by the same rules and face the same problems.

martinlewisfanclub

Conor wrote: »

It makes absolutely no difference as they all have to abide by the same rules and face the same problems.

Thanks, that's what I thought. I just wondered if the big companies, having the tachos installed etc, would be quicker and more amenable at the outset to doing a long recovery and have each stage of the relay ready to roll every 60 miles.

scbk

The thing is the big companies don't have tachos installed in a lot of their vehicles

Infact I'm sure I heard that the AA were breaking driver's hours regulations