29th July 2008
Tachodisc are now official distributors of a new range of Drivers’ Hours Guard, which are fully compliant with the latest Drivers’ Hours Legislation and can be used by drivers operating either analogue or digital tachographs.
Designed by a driver for drivers, the clever and easy-to-read handheld timers are designed to help you stay within the law. The simple to operate timer will notify you of any impending breaks or rests that you may require under the current driver’s hours or working time directive regulations.
Karen Crispe, Director at Tachodisc explains how the Drivers’ Hours Guards work: “At the start of the working day the Drivers’ Hour Guard will only allow you to end your rest period if you have successfully completed your nine or eleven hour rest requirement, from starting work you simply press the same button as you would on your tachograph. The Drivers’ Hour Guard will then record the total driving time, other work, or periods of availability and display on the screen what time you must stop for a break, it permits you to take 1 x 15 minute break and or 30 minute breaks and ensures that all break requirements are met with on screen warnings as the time for a break approaches.”
The Drivers’ Hours Guard software is pre-programmed with the permitted breaks; therefore drivers can be assured that by using the hour guard timers they will remain within the law, drastically reducing the risks of tachograph infringements.
“The timer will also alert drivers to maximum shifts,” added Karen. “As you approach 15 hours, the timer sounds a loud warning which must be cancelled by the driver confirming they have been made aware of the warning. If the driver has already used their 3 x 15 hours shifts for the week, the timer will warn them as the 13 hour maximum approaches.”
“The added bonus of using the hour guard timers comes with its capability of showing the user their 26 week average working time, therefore allowing the driver to adjust their shifts accordingly by either increasing or decreasing the number of hours worked to make the most of the 26 week rule. The Drivers’ Hours Guards will also help drivers operating digital tachographs overcome rounding-up issues, as it will record how much driving time you have in reality,” continued Karen.
A second and new version of the Drivers’ Hours Guard is also available, which offers a USB download facility, allowing the driver to download up to 26 weeks work from the timer’s memory onto a PC or Laptop for use in spreadsheet software using CSV file format.
“The Drivers’ Hours Guards do not replace a tachograph, but by being used in conjunction with the tachograph it diminishes the need to remove the disc from the tacho head or to download data from the Drivers Card to find out just how much time you have available,” concluded Karen.