The Rules for NYC TLC Driver Fatigue

Everyone who has ever gone through a driver’s education class knows that impaired driving is a huge risk factor for car accidents. That’s why such an emphasis is put on not driving drunk or texting and driving. However, there is another kind of impaired driver on the roads today that causes as many as 100,000 accidents yearly: the fatigued driver.

In order to keep these kinds of accidents off our streets, the Taxi and Limousine Commission has enacted policies to prevent taxi, limousine, black car, and rideshare drivers from driving while tired. Knowing the rules for NYC TLC driver fatigue is essential for avoiding disciplinary action.

What Does the Rule Say?

The TLC’s rule places a limit on the number of hours drivers can work at once, similar to other labor laws. It states that a driver cannot drive more than ten hours within a twenty-four-hour period. Drivers are also not allowed to drive for more than sixty hours over the course of a single calendar week. This prevents drivers from spending too many hours behind the wheel and thus becoming more prone to accidents.

How Does the TLC Track Driving Hours?

The TLC tracks your hours through your home base. Bases keep track of the drop off date, time, and location for every trip a driver makes and reports this to the TLC. From this, the TLC calculates the hours driven. If a base allows drivers to drive over the ten-hour a day, sixty-hour a week allotted time, they can be fined $200 per trip that occurred beyond those hours.

What Happens If I Drive Over Time?

This is concerning for bases, but what about drivers? Drivers who go overtime will first be issued warnings, allowing them to adjust their hours accordingly. If they continue to drive over the designated hours, the TLC will issue a summons that may lead to points or fines. You should never ignore a summons, even if you feel that you are innocent of the charges.

How Do I Track My Hours?

You can track your hours every time you go to pick up a passenger by noting what time every ride begins and ends. You can write this information down, then put it into a spreadsheet or any other format you may prefer. Because bases are also tracking your hours, it may be helpful to regularly check your own records against your base’s to avoid any discrepancies.

Driving fatigued is dangerous, and the goal of the TLC’s driver fatigue rule is to protect both drivers and passengers. If you want to get behind the wheel and join the legions of TLC drivers keeping New York City moving, rent a TLC vehicle with Fast Track Mobility today.