How Scheduled Driver Breaks and Shift Changes Improve Safety and Efficiency in DRT

Ensuring the wellbeing of drivers is not just a legal requirement—it’s a critical part of delivering reliable, safe, and human-centric mobility services. At Shotl, we’ve built advanced functionality into our platform to support this: scheduled driver breaks and shift changes directly integrated into the Driver App.

Why Rest Matters: Backed by Science and Regulation

Driver fatigue is a major factor in road safety, especially in public and shared transport systems. According to the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), up to 20% of road crashes are linked to tiredness. The World Health Organization (WHO) also ranks fatigue as a key contributor to accidents, particularly among professional drivers who work long or irregular hours.

To tackle this, the EU Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 requires that drivers take at least 45 minutes of rest after 4.5 hours of driving, alongside minimum daily and weekly rest periods. The International Labour Organization (ILO) further reinforces the need for structured recovery time in transport operations.

A 2021 study by the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) revealed that over 60% of truck drivers and 66% of bus and coach drivers admitted to regularly driving while fatigued. Alarmingly, 27% of surveyed drivers confessed to nearly causing a major accident due to fatigue, and a significant number reported falling asleep at the wheel.

Further research underscores the dangers of inadequate rest. A study published in Accident Analysis & Prevention found that extending rest breaks between shifts from 7 to 11 hours significantly improved drivers’ sleep, alertness, and driving performance.

Additionally, the SHIFT study, a structured health intervention for truckers, demonstrated that health education and structured breaks can lead to long-term improvements in drivers’ health and road safety.

How Shotl Enables Smart Scheduling for Better Service

Shotl’s platform empowers transport planners to proactively configure driver breaks and shift changes as part of daily operations. These breaks can be fixed or flexibly adapted based on real-time demand. Importantly, passengers can continue to submit requests during a break—the system automatically queues and adjusts, preserving continuity without compromising safety.

Shift transitions are equally smooth. The Driver App notifies when and where a changeover should occur, helping operators manage longer shifts while staying compliant with workforce regulations. This functionality is especially useful in extended services such as evening or rural DRT operations.

In practical terms, these features contribute to sustained performance. Data from a typical Shotl service in Vallirana showed consistent on-time delivery and user satisfaction—even with multiple breaks and handovers integrated throughout the day. The average wait time remained below 20 minutes, and trips were completed efficiently, illustrating the system’s robustness under real-world conditions.

Designing Around Drivers = Designing for Success

At Shotl, we believe that effective DRT systems must be designed around people—both passengers and drivers. By embedding legal compliance and wellbeing into our tech, we enable cities and operators to build smarter, safer, and more sustainable public transport.

Interested in how these features could enhance your operation? Get in touch with our team to learn more about integrating Shotl into your network.