Some vehicles used in connection with sewerage, flood protection, water, gas and electricity maintenance may be exempt from the EC drivers’ hours rules. For vehicles to qualify for the exemption they must be directly involved in maintenance work, where the original existing utility infrastructure is being repaired or replaced. For example, if a vehicle is used when replacing an existing section of underground pipe it would be exempt from the EC drivers’ hours rules, but if a vehicle is used when installing a new underground piping system it would not be exempt. Electricity companies may argue that all their vehicles are exempt because all their work goes towards maintaining the national grid. But this goes beyond the exemption, and some of these operations are bound by EC drivers’ hours rules. Read the advice note on GOV.UK and see EC Regulation 561/2006. A subscription to Smartanalysis will help you manage your driver's hours for all non-exempt vehicles.