Depends on many factors. The government are now using 1.5 hours travel for jobseekers - i.e. if its within that its reasonable. What would they be doing whilst away? meetings or physical work? each has fatigue elements. I have previously used a notional 11 hours of 'duty' time with a little bit of flex. Is your example 2 hours from normal place of work, or 2 hours from home? The regulations and guidance don't help much, other than requiring the activity to be risk assessed. Are there alternative means of transport? If our journeys are now more than 4 hours train is recommended - further lengthening any travel time. Bottom line is: would you be prepared to stand up in court if held accountable and the travelling party had had an accident?

We don't have a set in stone policy but have a bit of leeway (most trips out for staff are as a rule either a day trip to a depot within 100 miles or so or an overnight or two to fit in 2-3 depots). I can normally do Glasgow and back as a day trip even with 7 hours driving, if i'm only there for 4 hours or so. If I have to be there the whole day from 8am to 5pm or later I will stay overnight in Glasgow or somewhere on the way back.

And for me, a train is out of the question due to usually having a boot full of work related items. Not sure i'd want to carry two large plastic boxes, laptop bag and overnight case with me...

I think it would also be useful when considering what is "reasonable" to look the working time and conditions over more than just a single day. For example: a driver may well have over a 3 hour drive home that night, but the following day is reasonably light with a prospect of a normal finish time and less driving. As always you have to balance your judgement based upon the tasks being carried out and the flexibility you allow your drivers to make decisions based upon their workload over a number of days, with appropriate guidance and rules obviously.

Like others I also would rather go home it at all possible as even the nicest 4 star hotels lost their appeal many years ago. I would leave it up to the discretion of the individual, as there are many factors involved and each individual has different tolerances to driving. I will drive through the night with my husband to get to the Alps but others would want a stopover. In our company we chose when we stay over and that has always been the case wherever I have worked. Also forget distance. Around here, for example, 2 hrs may only get me 40-50 miles due to the tiny roads. Leave it up to the individual and if someone is taking the mick and being away a lot then take that on a case by case basis. Most people prefer to go home don't they though?

The travelling time should be pitched against the time you are actually at work. In the railway industry w work on a maximum 12 day including travelling time. There is an exception when a 14 hour one off shift is permitted, but you must have 12 hours prior to booking on for your next shift. It's not an easy one to manage as someone will always try and bend the rules.

Don't know what happened to my overnight stays! As others have said, the novelty very quickly wears off and eating alone in a soulless hotel is not fun. Sadly it must be much worse for women on their own, particularly in some countries.