Defence Forces urged to introduce driving hour limits for military personnel

Ray McKenna called for a reduction in the duty requirements placed on older personnel to reflect increased health risks as they age. File picture

A health and safety expert has warned that the Defence Forces must adopt new rules to limit the number of hours personnel spend driving.

Ray McKenna, a member of PDForra, said the Department of Defence should introduce a “Driver Rest/Sleep Card System” to promote safer driving practices and ensure compliance with rest requirements.

“The Road Safety Authority states that ‘fighting sleep at the wheel is as dangerous as driving over the legal alcohol limit. Professional driver hours in Ireland are strictly regulated by EU law and enforced by the RSA, Mr Mckenna said.

"Key limits include a nine-hour daily limit (twice weekly extended to 10 hours), a 56-hour weekly limit, and mandatory 45-minute breaks after 4.5 hours of driving, but these limits aren’t enforced in the Defence Forces, which are also exempted from having tachographs in vehicles."

He said the British armed forces have already introduced strict limits that provide a clear and accountable method of recording driving hours and rest periods, helping to reduce fatigue-related risks and improve operational safety.

“I believe this initiative would align with best practice standards and demonstrates a proactive commitment to the welfare of our members,” Mr McKenna said.

He also called for the creation of a formal “driving to work policy” for association members, some of whom regularly travel long distances for duties in barracks.

“Such a policy would provide clear guidance on responsibilities, safety standards, and compliance requirements for those operating vehicles in the course of their roles. Employers have a statutory duty of care to ensure the safety of employees driving for work, which is treated as a high-risk activity by the Health and Safety Authority as over 25% of fatal road collisions involve someone driving for work,” he said.

“A policy is required when employees drive in a company vehicle or use their own vehicle for work purposes and receive an allowance. It covers employees from the time they leave home for a work location that's not their normal place of work. The implantation of this policy would promote road safety, reduce organisational risk, and ensure a consistent and accountable approach to work related driving,” Mr McKenna said.

Separately, Mr McKenna called for a reduction in the duty requirements placed on older personnel to reflect increased health risks as they age.

He said a review should be carried out to ensure duty requirements remain fair, proportionate, and reflective of the physical demands placed on personnel at different stages of their careers.

“Medical research has shown that as we age, the body's recovery time increases, with recovery times extending from 24–48 hours for young adults and up to four–seven days for older adults. Shift work and lack of sleep disrupt the body's internal clock (circadian rhythm), leading to chronic fatigue, cognitive impairment, and a significantly higher risk of chronic diseases,” he said.

Mr McKenna said common consequences include heart disease, obesity, gastrointestinal issues, weakened immunity, depression, and metabolic disorders such as diabetes.

“This is driven by slower cell regeneration, reduced immune system efficiency, lower hormone levels and decreased blood flow to muscles.

“This measure would support the wellbeing of our members, promote sustainability in service, and align duty allocation with best practice in workplace management,” Mr McKenna said.