Driving

This information applies to people in the UK only. If you live outside the UK, then more information about epilepsy and employment where you are will be available from your local epilepsy organisation.

Some jobs require you to be able to travel. The Disability Discrimination Act means that an employer cannot advertise a job as ‘driving licence essential’, unless there is no way that the job could be done without one.

For example, if you sometimes need to travel to different locations for work, but don’t hold a driving licence because of your epilepsy, a reasonable adjustment may be to use public transport or taxis. In this case, the employer could advertise the job as ‘able to travel’.

There are jobs where a driving licence is essential, such as taxi drivers, bus drivers or long distance lorry drivers. In these cases, an employer would not be discriminating by stating that an employee must hold a valid driving licence.

If you can’t drive because of your epilepsy, in the UK you may be entitled to help with the costs of travel to and from work, and also travelling while at work.

See also

• Driving and epilepsy

Last updated 2 May 2008