Epilepsy driving laws by country: Difference between revisions
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|Patients must be seizure-free for 3–6 months for recently-diagnosed seizures, and for two years for chronic epilepsy<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref>http://www.epilepsyassociation.com.au/info/lifestyle/driving.html.</ref>. Exact laws vary by territory<ref name=onlinelibrary/>. |
|Patients must be seizure-free for 3–6 months for recently-diagnosed seizures, and for two years for chronic epilepsy<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref>http://www.epilepsyassociation.com.au/info/lifestyle/driving.html.</ref>. Exact laws vary by state or territory<ref name=onlinelibrary/>. |
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Revision as of 10:06, 27 May 2012
Laws by country
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| Country | Law | Physician required to report | Seizure-free period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andorra | 2 years | ||
| Argentina | There are no specific laws prohibiting people with epilepsy from driving. Patients generally rely on advice from their physicians[1]. | No | |
| Australia | Patients must be seizure-free for 3–6 months for recently-diagnosed seizures, and for two years for chronic epilepsy[2][3]. Exact laws vary by state or territory[1]. | 3 months to 2 years | |
| Austria | The most common seizure-free period required is 2 years, but in some cases, this can be extended to 3. Insurance companies are not required to make liability payments in accidents caused by seizures[1]. | 2-3 years | |
| Belgium | Seizure-free period required depends on the type of seizure[1]. | 1-2 years | |
| Bermuda | 1 year | ||
| Brazil | 1 year | ||
| Bulgaria | Those who have ever had a seizure are prohibited from driving[4]. | ||
| Canada | Exact laws may vary by province/territory. See Canada below. | 1 year | |
| Central African Republic | Those who have ever had a seizure are prohibited from driving[4]. | ||
| China | Those who have ever had a seizure are prohibited from driving[4]. | ||
| Croatia | 2 years | ||
| Cyprus | 1 year | ||
| Czech Republic[5] | Physician may set additional more restrictions (like no night driving), for professional drivers seizure-free period is 10 years | Yes | 1 year |
| Denmark | The national health board is involved in epilepsy cases in determining exact length of disqualification, which is usually 2 years. Physician input is recommended[1]. | 2 years | |
| Egypt | 2 years | ||
| Estonia | Required seizure-free period of one year for cars and motorcycles and of five years for trucks and buses[6] | 1-5 years | |
| France | Required seizure-free period is 2 years, but this may be reduced at the advice of a physician[1]. | 2 years | |
| Germany | In heavy cases the period of time is 2 years[7]. Patients with seizures that do not involve motor activity are not disqualified from driving.[1]. | No | 1 year[7] |
| Ghana | Those who have ever had a seizure are prohibited from driving[4]. | ||
| Greece | 2 years | ||
| Iceland | 2 years | ||
| India | Those who have ever had a seizure are prohibited from driving[4]. This law was passed in 1939[1]. | ||
| Ireland | In general, requires driver be seizure-free for one year. Exceptions are given for those with nocturnal seizures, change of medication, non-epileptic seizures, single seizures, or seizures in which consciousness is not lost[8]. | 1 year | |
| Israel | varies by region | ||
| Italy | Each case is assessed by the regional board[1]. | 2 years | |
| Japan | Japan in the past had some of the world's strictest laws pertaining to epilepsy and driving, requiring all patients to be seizure-free for up to five years before being issued a license[2][9]. This changed in 2002, and Japan now allows those who have been seizure-free for 2 years to drive[4]. Patients must be officially "cured." Physicians are required to report patients who drive[1]. | Yes | 2 years |
| Luxembourg | 2 years | ||
| Malaysia | 2 years | ||
| Malta | 1 year | ||
| Mexico | varies by state | ||
| Netherlands | 1 year | ||
| New Zealand | Default seizure-free period is 1 year. This may be reduced to 6 months if neurologist petitions to Land Transportation Safety Authority, and it is agreed[1]. | 1 year | |
| Norway | 2-year period may only be reduced in exceptional cases[1]. | Yes | 2 years |
| Pakistan | Those who have ever had a seizure are prohibited from driving[4]. | ||
| Portugal | 2 years | ||
| Romania | 1 year | ||
| Rwanda | Those who have ever had a seizure are prohibited from driving[4]. | ||
| Saudi Arabia | 1 year | ||
| Senegal | 1 year | ||
| Singapore | Those who have ever had a seizure are prohibited from driving[4]. | ||
| Slovenia | 2 years | ||
| South Africa | 2 years | ||
| Spain | 1 year | ||
| Sweden | Must be seizure-free for five years before being allowed to drive professionally[2]. | Yes | 2 years |
| Switzerland | 1 year | ||
| Taiwan | Those who have ever had a seizure are prohibited from driving[4]. | ||
| Turkey | Those who have ever had a seizure are prohibited from driving[4]. Many patients do in violation of this law[1]. | ||
| United Kingdom | It is the responsibility of the patients to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if they have epilepsy.[10] The DVLA rules are quite complex,[11] but in summary,[12] those continuing to have seizures or who are within 6 months of medication change may have their licence revoked, if the Secretary of State's advisory panel feels that that particular licence holder's epilepsy makes him or her unfit to drive. A doctor who becomes aware that a patient with uncontrolled epilepsy is continuing to drive has, after reminding the patient of their responsibility, a duty to break confidentiality and inform the DVLA. The doctor should advise the patient of the disclosure and the reasons why their failure to notify the agency obliged the doctor to act. | Yes | 1 year |
| United States | Laws vary by state. See United States below. | varies by state | |
| Uruguay | 1 year | ||
| Uzbekistan | Those who have ever had a seizure are prohibited from driving[4]. |
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2310/7060.2000.00001/pdf
- ^ a b c Ben-Menachem E (2004). "Toward a more pragmatic view of driving and epilepsy". Epilepsy Curr. 4 (4): 133–4. doi:10.1111/j.1535-7597.2004.44003.x. PMC 1176346. PMID 16059474.
- ^ http://www.epilepsyassociation.com.au/info/lifestyle/driving.html.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/epid.html
- ^ http://www.epilepsie.cz/verejna/verejna_cast.php?id=50
- ^ https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/104012011006 §4.1.9
- ^ a b http://www.betanet.de/betanet/soziales_recht/Epilepsie---Autofahren-556.html
- ^ http://www.ibe-epilepsy.org/downloads/CopenhagenDriving.pdf
- ^ Hashimoto K, Fukushima Y, Saito F, Wada K (1991). "A study on driving status in 98 epileptic patients with driving licences". Jpn. J. Psychiatry Neurol. 45 (2): 323–6. PMID 1762210.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ UK Epilepsy Action: Driving and Epilepsy, I've had a seizure. What should I do?
- ^ UK Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Guide to the Current Medical Standards Of Fitness to Drive. Full details for doctors regarding epilepsy are given in the Appendix. Information for drivers can be found in Medical Rules - Group 1 Licence Holders
- ^ UK Epilepsy Action: booklet with further details about driving PDF