Balearic Islands: TIB drivers receive fixed breaks for the first time

Finally clear breaks: Two 15-minute breaks for TIB drivers

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On the intercity bus from Palma toward Inca or Consell, travelers have in recent months often watched timetables with empty eyes. The good news: the drivers now receive fixed breaks. The Ministry of Transport and the SATI union have, after the summer disputes, agreed that on lines without tachographs two breaks of 15 minutes are provided.

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What this means in practice

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For most trips where a tachograph was not mandatory, this means: a short interruption in the middle of the route — no longer improvised at the gas station or roadside. In general, the breaks should be scheduled so that timetables and connections do not get scrambled. The timetables themselves remain unchanged according to the agreement. Some colleagues I met during a break at the bus station openly said: "Finally an espresso, without staring at the clock."

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The agreement explicitly targets routes that do not fall under the EU driving and rest time regulations. There, much was previously built on trust and experience. Now there should be a binding rule — in writing, not just by handshake.

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Why it matters

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The SATI union describes the agreement as a success after the strike. The aim is not only the drivers’ comfort but also passenger safety. Tired drivers mean a higher risk on the road. State authorities emphasize that the new breaks are meant to protect employees’ health without restricting mobility on the island.

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A driver in his mid-40s who has been driving the Llucmajor–Palma route for years summed it up: It’s only 15 minutes, but they make a difference — a little air, a little rest and the mind starts working clearly again.

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How exactly the breaks will appear in duty rosters and who will monitor them remains to be clarified in the coming days. But for many workers on the Balearics, this is a tangible sign: after the hot summer, they have regained a measure of normality and recognition.