Australian Capital Territory Current Acts

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HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW (ACT) - SECT 252

Defence relating to short rest breaks for drivers operating under standard hours

    (1)     This section applies if, at a particular time, the driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle is required, under section 250 or 251, to have a short rest break.

Examples of when this section applies—

The driver is required to have 15 continuous minutes rest time because—

(a)     the driver has worked for 5 1 / 4 hours; or

(b)     the driver has worked for 7 1 / 2 hours and has only had 15 continuous minutes rest time during that period; or

(c)     the driver has worked for 10 hours and has only had 3 lots of 15 continuous minutes rest time during that period.

    (2)     In a proceeding for an offence against section 250 or 251 relating to the driver failing to have the short rest break, it is a defence for the driver to prove that—

        (a)     at the time the driver was required to have the short rest break, there was no suitable rest place for fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles; and

        (b)     the driver had the short rest break

              (i)     at the next suitable rest place for fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles available after that time on the forward route of the driver's journey; and

              (ii)     no later than 45 minutes after the time the driver was required to have the short rest break.

Example of when the defence applies—

The driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle fails to have a short rest break after 5 1 / 4 hours of work time because there was no suitable rest place for fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles when the driver was scheduled to have the short rest break. Instead, the driver has a short rest break after 5 1 / 2 hours work at a suitable rest place for fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles down the road.

    (3)     In this section—

"short rest break" means rest time of less than 1 hour.



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