Fleets that operate light commercial vans are being urged to take part in a review of driving hours rules after the Government launched a review of driver hours rules that will affect van fleets and those that operate buses and other commercial vehicles.

The rules set daily driving and duty limits and, in some instances break and rest requirements.

They apply to drivers of light commercial vans not exceeding 3.5 tonnes, NHS and publicly-owned medical vehicles, local authority services for the elderly and disabled, milk delivery vehicles, utilities and road maintenance vehicles, breakdown trucks and charity work vehicles.

According to the road safety minister Paul Clark the rules will improve road safety, promote good working conditions and ensure fair competition between operators.

The Department for Transport consultation covers the UK domestic drivers' hours rules.

As well as van and many bus drivers.

They do not apply to lorry or bus drivers who cover longer routes as these are governed by EU driver hours rules.

"The domestic drivers' hours rules affect thousands of workers across the UK so it is vital that they are effective in keeping drivers, passengers and other road users safe,” said Clark.

"This is a wide ranging consultation and we want to hear from as many drivers, operators and fleet managers as possible so that we can understand how the rules are working on the ground."

The consultation is part of a comprehensive review of the domestic rules and although it proposes no legislative changes the responses will be used to inform future policy decisions.

Copies of the consultation, which will close on 13 October 2009, are available at www.dft.gov.uk/consultations

The DfT has also commissioned research as part of the review of the domestic drivers' hours rules.

Links to this research can be found at the DfT website at: www.dft.gov.uk/consultations