Written question – Requiring taxi drivers to take breaks despite proven periods of downtime without customers – E-002813/2025

Question for written answer  E-002813/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Anders Vistisen (PfE)

As the EU rules currently stand, taxi drivers and people in similar professions are required to take a break at the latest after six hours of work, regardless of whether, in the meantime, they have had downtime and waiting periods without customers. In practice, this means that drivers who have already had an hour or more of downtime in their vehicle, without active driving, are required to take a further break. This has a negative effect on both their earnings and their customer service.

• 1.Does the Commission consider it reasonable that documented downtime and waiting times – which are recorded by control systems in the car – are not recognised as rest periods or breaks?
• 2.Is the Commission intending to overhaul or clarify the existing rules so that better account is taken of the specific circumstances in the taxi industry and to ensure that the requirements relating to break times are applied in a more balanced way?

Submitted: 10.7.2025