The Driving Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has published its response to proposals that will change the laws for people driving with epilepsy.
These proposals follow a public consultation in April 2011on the rules, after the introduction of the new European Directive on Driving Standards. Read what Epilepsy Action said about these proposals.
Based on figures from the Department of Transport, Epilepsy Action estimates that around 275-550 people with epilepsy could benefit from these changes. Although these regulations do not apply at the moment, they will come into force later in 2012.
This means the main changes will be for Group 1 licences, which cover driving cars and motorcycles for personal use.
- For the first time, drivers who have only have seizures while asleep may now be considered for a licence after one year, instead of the current three years.
- Currently people who have seizures that do not affect their consciousness are unable to hold a driving licence, unless they are free of all seizures for one year. The new proposals will allow people who have these types of seizure to apply for a licence while they are still having seizures, provided they have only ever had this type of seizure. They can apply for a licence one year after diagnosis.
- And currently if a person’s medication is changed, causing seizures, but the person returns to the old successful treatment, they have to wait one year before they can apply for a licence. The new proposals say this wait should be lowered to six-month seizure freedom.
See the full response of the DVLA
See the current driving rules and regulations. Epilepsy Action will be updating it’s advice and information when these rules come into affect.
In response to the announcement, Simon Wigglesworth, deputy chief executive at Epilepsy Action, said:
“We welcome the changes to UK driving regulations for people with epilepsy. The new rules are based on evidence. We believe they are fair and are an improvement on the previous regulations.
“Based on figures from the Department of Transport, Epilepsy Action estimates that around 275-550 people with epilepsy could benefit from these changes. Not being able to drive is not necessarily a barrier for people with epilepsy. However, driving can make a real difference for some people with the condition. For example, someone may be able to travel to a job further from home. It can also give them freedom and independence, and have a positive effect on many different areas of their life.
“It is important to note that people with epilepsy should only drive if they feel safe, and are legally able to do so.
Road Safety Minister, Mike Penning, said: “Road safety is a top priority for the Government and our licensing rules have an important role in ensuring that Britain maintains its position as having some of the safest roads in the world. We must make sure that only those who are safe to drive do so, while at the same time avoiding placing unnecessary restrictions on people’s independence.
“We believe that these changes strike the right balance in allowing as many people as possible to drive, without compromising safety.”
If anyone is unsure about how the new regulations will affect them they should seek medical advice. They also can contact Epilepsy Action’s helpline on freephone 0808 800 5050 or visit www.epilepsy.org.uk
Comments: read the 13 comments or add yours
Comments
•'Drivers who have only ever had seizures that have no impact on consciousness or the ability to act can apply for a driving licence one year from the date of their first seizure. Currently these drivers can only be licensed if they are free from these seizures for a period of 12 months.'
This doesnt make sense as it says 12 moths then 1 year, I though tthey were the same ! P{lus I thought it was already just 1 year anyway.
Hi Andy,
Thanks for your question – apologies, our original text wasn’t very clear so we have now re-written it.
It now says:
Currently people who have seizures that do not affect their consciousness are unable to hold a driving licence, unless they are free of all seizures for one year. The new proposals will allow people who have these types of seizure to apply for a licence while they are still having seizures, provided they have only ever had this type of seizure. They can apply for a licence one year after diagnosis.
Thanks again,
Pete
Epilepsy Action
This sounds like a good idea. My daughter has epilepsy and it upsets her that she can't drive, this might cheer her up.
For EA to support this is absolute madness. I thought you were a charity that, unlike the average man on the street, knows more about epilepsy that the stereotypical tonic clonic or absence seizure.
Just because a seizure does not affect your consciousness does not mean that it does not impact severely on your concentration and on parts of your body involved in driving. I know from personal experience that simple partial seizures can cause fear, distraction, a sense of removal from your surroundings and strange sensations in various limbs lasting from seconds to minutes. I for one would not be safe if allowed to drive under these new rules.
It is all well and good saying it will be much better for people with epilepsy - commuting may be easier, but it puts the person with epilepsy and those around them at increased risk in the long run. I run a local EA branch, speaking to lots of people who have had driving licenses revoked; these people have the attitude that driving is the be all and end all - simply removing this barrier to driving to make people happy doesn't make for safe roads. This is coming from someone who's had epilepsy since the age of 6 and has had to use public transport all her life.
Hi Vicky,
Thanks for the comment.
We know this is a difficult issue. We’re satisfied with the changes because of the medical advice we’ve received, and the medical-driving evidence that currently exists.
The changes will allow only some people who have very particular types of seizures to drive. The symptoms of some focal seizures should not affect a person’s consciousness. These include feelings of stomach churning, smelling non-existent smells and a changing of mood. As long as these are the only effects someone feels, and a Dr has confirmed they will not impact on a person’s ability to drive, they can apply for a licence.
The changes to the laws will not affect a large number of people. The Department of Transport themselves estimate that it will only change the situation between 0.05-0.1 per cent of people with epilepsy who are unable to drive at the moment www.dft.gov.uk/dvla/~/media/pdf/consultations/IA%202.ashx
We completely agree that people who have seizures that alter concentration or effect the movement of parts of the body should not drive. And the rules will still mean that people who have these types of seizures cannot drive. And we also advise that if people themselves do not feel that they should be driving, even if they are medically approved to drive, then they shouldn’t.
Pete Scott
Campaigns and Policy Officer
Epilepsy Action
The legislation means that it is largely left down to the individual to decide on their suitability to drive. For example, the level to which concentration is impaired can really only be decided by the individual - if this individual is determined to get back on the roads at all costs, all they have to do is say that their concentration is not affected.
I would say from a personal point of view that I am delighted with the the third paragraph which deals with changes to medication. Last year my GP was talking about reducing or stopping my medication as it had progressively over the years been reduced. However, unfortunately I went onto having a few 'Absences/Blank Spells' none of which I might add whilst driving!.
I consequently visited the consultant who advised me to refrain from driving for a period of 1 year. I am delighted to say that this period is now nearing an end and I will be able to return to driving from August all things being well. I have increased my medication on the advice of the consultant, and have not had any problems since then. I think the six month rule is sufficient to show the effect one way or another if the individual concerned has improved or not. If they have not then an extension of another six months could always be applied.
Regarding Vicky's post on 31's May 2012, this is far too generalised. Taking myself as an example (I'm doing this simply because I am more familiar with my symptoms than anyone else is), a visual disturbance that starts as a small colored dot in my right field of vision expands and fades. I can work as normal during one; they have effect on consciousnesses or the ability to act. Frequency and duration of disturbances have over the last 6 years have dropped from average once a week, duration 5 minutes to a duration of perhaps 30 seconds. The last one happened on 24th March 2012 and was so feint that had it not been the same type as before, I would have put it down as eye strain and thought no more about it, yet under the present rules, assuming I have no further episodes I would not be allowed to drive until 24th March 2013.
Hello, I welcome this change. I have been recently diagnosed with partial focal seizures but until I knew what they were I drove for years, there has never been an effect and I can't see why there would be. Do we know when the new legislation may be passed? Thanks
Hi Kathryn
I’m sorry but the DVLA still haven’t set a date. As soon as we have this information we will post the information through our website, social media and in our member’s magazine Epilepsy Today.
Diane
Advice and Information Team.
i suffer from nightime sezuires for the past four years since having an abcess removed from my brain previous to this i was fit and healthy i have a regular pattern or so of sezuires which are under control through aeds so does that mean i will be able to apply for my lifeline back (licence) if so when do these new laws come into place
Hi
If you’ve had a pattern of three years or more of sleep seizures only, you can apply for your driving licence back now. If you’ve had any seizures while awake in that time, you can apply when you have been one year completely seizure free. Here is a link to the current driving regulations http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/driving/agencies-licence-categories#stan...
We do not know yet when the driving regulations will change. As soon as they do, we will post the information on our website www.epilepsy.org.uk
Kathy
Advice and Information Team
thanks very much will keep looking on the web site