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Real members of MyEpilepsyTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

Driving

A MyEpilepsyTeam Member asked a question 💭
Canberra, AU

I'm just curious about your laws on driving with a diagnosis of epilepsy? In Australia the law is if you have a seizure or there are changes to medication you are not suppose to drive for a year. As long as you are seizure free. My neurologist has said that because I'm not a 18 yr old hoon! He doesn't call the authorities so I can be tagged. It used to be 3yrs or never.

September 1, 2017
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A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

I live in the UK and have been driving for 50 years. Once the law said '3 years seizure-free' and that was a real pain but then it was changed to 1 year, maybe 15 years ago? I have full TC seizures with no warning, but always first thing in the morning, so I developed a habit of giving myself an extra hour in the morning, just to make sure I was OK. Licences are restricted to 3 years after which you have to reapply. I never had any difficulties with the authorities. After 5 years you can apply for a 'til 70' licence. Ironically, by the time I was SF for 5 years, I was 67, so it made no difference! I am happy to say that by being utterly strict with my meds, I have been SF for 8 years and counting..

March 25, 2019
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

Here in the UK it's also a trust thing, but you are supposed to voluntarily surrender your licence after a seizure. The medical team at the licensing authority (DVLA) will then assess your fitness to drive. In my case (full tonic-colonic) it's at least one year but still depends on your history. And then you get a licence for 3 years and have to reapply. I am lucky, as I have now been seizure free for the last 10 years.

June 22, 2020
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

I’ve been seizure free just shy of 2 months shy of 2 years (not counting a seizure during a video EEG). My previous neurologist told me not to drive for two years, which I haven’t explained well to my current one (I haven’t seen him much though), so he may think I’m odd because the law is only 6 months. I decided to go with the waiting because I don’t have much of an aura. (As a side note the production manager at my previous job would have preferred I not go onto the production floor alone because I had a seizure there - completely unrealistic and difficult given my career).
Anyway, my license has lapsed, and now I’ll have to take the WHOLE test again- ugh.

March 23, 2019
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

I had my licence revoked for two years due to two colonic seizures and de ja vous episodes.
Since then the law has changed and I’m allowed to drive even though I still get de ja vous episodes very rarely.

August 26, 2019
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

In the states of Colorado and Oklahoma, your license will be suspended for 6 months after a grand mal. After the suspension, the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) must have documented proof that your doctor believes it's safe for you to drive, and then they will decide

August 18, 2019

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