Two times 15 minutes for TIB drivers: A step forward — but is that really enough?

Two times 15 minutes for TIB drivers: Finally rules, but the debate is not over yet

In the early morning, when at Estació Intermodal in Palma the first squeak of doors and the rumble of diesel engines herald the day, you can see them: drivers with rings of tiredness who gulp a quick espresso between door checks and departure announcements. After the hot summer and the confrontations between the union and the authorities, there is now a clear message — and a simple question: is it enough?

What was decided — in short

The Transport Ministry and the union SATI have agreed that on intercity TIB routes that do not fall under the EU driving and rest time rules, two mandatory breaks of 15 minutes each will be provided in future. This applies to routes like Palma–Inca, Palma–Llucmajor or Palma–Consell, where much has previously been improvised: at petrol stations, lay-bys or in the middle of the road. This has been reported by Dos veces 15 minutos para los conductores de TIB: un avance — ¿pero es suficiente?.

The good side: more safety, some dignity

The rule creates clarity. For drivers this means: predictable rest periods, no constant checking of the clock and less stress when pulling away from stops. "Finally an espresso without staring at the clock," said one I met at a stop, laughing tiredly. From a road safety perspective this is a gain — alert drivers make fewer mistakes, reaction times are better, and passengers benefit directly.

But where there is light, there is shadow: the open questions

The agreement is written down — but still vague in some crucial areas. Who will enforce compliance? How exactly will the breaks be anchored in duty rosters without harming timetables and connections, as discussed in When Breaks Shape Timetables: TIB Changes and What They Mean for Mallorca? And what happens at night or during delays caused by accidents or strikes when there is no buffer?

The crux is the lack of technical traceability. On routes without a tachograph much will continue to rely on trust. That opens room for interpretation: breaks can be shifted, shortened or silently cancelled when there is pressure to keep connections. That is exactly what employees want to avoid.

Little-noticed aspects that now need to be discussed

First: infrastructure. An official break spot is more than an entry in the duty roster. At many stops there are no seats, toilets or even a wind-sheltered area — especially in winter, when a cold tramontana blows in from the sea. A 15-minute break on the hard shoulder is not a real recovery area.

Second: economic pressure. Operators could argue that unchanged timetables mean that breaks must be fitted into existing buffer times — sometimes at the expense of rest quality. The result: drivers are formally on break but have no real chance to unwind.

Third: transparency and a complaints mechanism. Without simple, accessible reporting options for drivers the rule remains paper. Who reports when breaks are systematically not observed? And how do you protect drivers from reprisals if they report violations?

Concrete proposals — practical for Mallorca

To make the 15 minutes more than just a nice intention, I suggest the following steps:

1) Clear entries in duty rosters: Breaks must appear as fixed visible time windows, not as "at discretion". Passengers should be automatically informed about delays, not surprised.

2) Create local break zones: At least at major hubs such as Plaça d'Espanya, Inca or Llucmajor, sheltered break areas with seating and restroom facilities should be available — a small investment with large effect.

3) Simple reporting systems: An anonymous hotline or app jointly run by the union and authorities could quickly make problems visible.

4) Pilot project with simple data collection: On selected routes, low-cost electronic time stamps could be tested to see if breaks are actually taken. This can build trust without immediately installing expensive tachographs.

Outlook: Small steps, big impact

The two times 15 minutes are progress — no more, but also no less. They return a measure of dignity to drivers and could improve safety on our roads. The summer strike showed that employees are ready to fight for their rights, as reported in TIB strike in Mallorca: hope for a resolution – relief for commuters and drivers. Now politicians and operators are called upon to bring the agreement to life: with concrete, practically feasible measures that can be felt on a windy morning at the bus stop.

When in the afternoon the buses bring the salty air from the sea again and the sun slowly fades over the Plaça, drivers should not just have endured the day, but actually be rested. Fifteen minutes are enough for that — if we mean it.