QLDIn ForceAct
Heavy Vehicle National Law Act 2012
sec.255Defence for solo drivers operating under BFM hours relating to split rest breaks
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### sec.255 Defence for solo drivers operating under BFM hours relating to split rest breaks
This section applies if, at a particular time, the driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle is required under section 254 to have 7 continuous hours of stationary rest time in a period of 24 hours.
In a proceeding for an offence against section 254 for a solo driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle relating to the driver failing to have the 7 continuous hours of stationary rest time, it is a defence for the driver to prove that—
at the time the driver was required to have the 7 continuous hours of stationary rest time, the driver was operating under BFM hours as a solo driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle; and
during the period of 24 hours for which the 7 continuous hours of stationary rest time was required to be had, the driver had 6 continuous hours of stationary rest time and 2 continuous hours of stationary rest time (a split rest break ); and
the driver had not had a split rest break in the previous 24-hour period.
The driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle stops work to have 7 continuous hours of stationary rest time, but can not sleep, so the driver has only 2 continuous hours of stationary rest time and then drives on for a further 2 hours and has a further 6 continuous hours of stationary rest time at another place down the road. In the previous 24-hour period the driver had 7 continuous hours of stationary rest time.
sch s 255 om 2025 No. 26 s 56 (uncommenced amendment)
(sec.255-ssec.1) This section applies if, at a particular time, the driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle is required under section 254 to have 7 continuous hours of stationary rest time in a period of 24 hours.
(sec.255-ssec.2) In a proceeding for an offence against section 254 for a solo driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle relating to the driver failing to have the 7 continuous hours of stationary rest time, it is a defence for the driver to prove that— at the time the driver was required to have the 7 continuous hours of stationary rest time, the driver was operating under BFM hours as a solo driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle; and during the period of 24 hours for which the 7 continuous hours of stationary rest time was required to be had, the driver had 6 continuous hours of stationary rest time and 2 continuous hours of stationary rest time (a split rest break ); and the driver had not had a split rest break in the previous 24-hour period. The driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle stops work to have 7 continuous hours of stationary rest time, but can not sleep, so the driver has only 2 continuous hours of stationary rest time and then drives on for a further 2 hours and has a further 6 continuous hours of stationary rest time at another place down the road. In the previous 24-hour period the driver had 7 continuous hours of stationary rest time.
- (a) at the time the driver was required to have the 7 continuous hours of stationary rest time, the driver was operating under BFM hours as a solo driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle; and
- (b) during the period of 24 hours for which the 7 continuous hours of stationary rest time was required to be had, the driver had 6 continuous hours of stationary rest time and 2 continuous hours of stationary rest time (a split rest break ); and
- (c) the driver had not had a split rest break in the previous 24-hour period.