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Living with Epilepsy

Driving

Epilepsy and Driving

Those who have an epileptic seizure of any type are obliged to inform the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and stop driving until circumstances have been fully evaluated by the Authority. This can be done by downloading a form from the website www.dvla.gov.uk   

Those who hold a licence to drive a car or motorcycle (Class 1 Licence) should download the form FEP1 and those who hold a licence to drive a bus, coach or lorry (Class 2 Licence) should download form FEP1V.

For those without an internet facility, the Association will happily download and supply the relevant form. 

It is important to be aware that failing to inform the DVLA of the condition can result in a fine of £1000 and prosecution of you are involved in an accident, regardless of whose fault was the cause of the accident.

As well as contravening the licensing laws, by not providing information it should be realised that there are implications regarding the validity of any motor insurance.  

The Driving regulations relating to epilepsy are laid out as follows:-

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Group 1 (Car and Motorcycle) Driving Entitlement

  • A person who suffers from epilepsy may qualify for a Group 1 driving licence if he or she has been free from any epileptic attack for one year. An epileptic attack includes a minor one as well as such signs as limb jerking, auras or absences and need not necessarily involve loss of consciousness.
  • A person who has suffered an epileptic attack whilst asleep must also refrain from driving for one year from the date of the attack, unless they have had an attack whilst asleep more than three years ago and have not had any awake attacks since that asleep attack.
  • A person may qualify for a Group 1 driving licence provided that he or she has established, over a period of 12 months (beginning on the date of a sleep attack), a history or pattern of attacks which have only ever occurred whilst asleep.
  • Seizures occurring without any influence on the level of consciousness or causing any functional impairment in those with no history of any other type of seizure may continue to be licensed despite ongoing attacks once the pattern has been established for 1 year.

In all above cases the applicant or licence holder suffering from epilepsy must not be regarded as likely to be a source of danger to the public as a driver. If whilst holding a driving licence a driver suffers from any epileptic attack then driving must cease immediately (unless 3 or 4 can be met) and the DVLA must be notified. If a licence is issued under 3 or 4 and a different type of seizure occurs then the concession is lost and driving must cease and the DVLA notified.

Isolated Seizure

A person who has suffered from a single unprovoked epileptic seizure (isolated fit) will qualify for a driving licence if he or she has been free from further attacks for a six month period, provided there are no further clinical factors or investigations that may suggest an unacceptably high risk of a further seizure occurring in which case it shall be 12 months of driving.

Withdrawal

If a seizure occurs as a result of a physician-

directed change of/or reduction of antiepileptic medication the epilepsy regulations state that a licence is revoked for 12 months as per the epilepsy regulations but reapplication can be accepted earlier once treatment has been reinstated for six months and as long as there have been no further seizures in the 6 months period after recommencing.

Group 2 (Lorry And Bus) Driving Entitlement

Epilepsy

Drivers of these vehicles must satisfy all of the following conditions:

  • Hold a full ordinary driving licence
  • Have been free of epileptic attacks for the last ten years.
  • Have not taken any antiepileptic medication during this ten year period.
  • Do not have a continuing liability to epileptic seizures.
Isolated Seizure

Drivers of these vehicles must satisfy all of the following conditions:

  • Hold a full ordinary driving licence
  • Have been free of epileptic attacks for the last five years.
  • Have not taken any antiepileptic medication during this five year period.
  • Have undergone a recent assessment by a Neurologist.
  • Have satisfactory results from investigations.

Finally, do be aware that a diagnosis of epilepsy does not mean a lifetime ban from driving a motor vehicle. Successful control of seizures can result in a licence being restored after a period of 12 months or in the case of an isolated seizure or withdrawal seizures a minimum of six months.

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MREA

Registered Charity Number: 504366

Email us at: info@epilepsymersey.org.uk

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