Donate Epilepsy, Epilepsy Treatment, Epilepsy Information, Epilepsy Library, Epilepsy

LIVING WELL WITH EPILEPSY

Driving

• Seizures and driving
• National driving guidelines
• Driving in Victoria
• Can I drive?
• Learner permits and driver licences
• Do you already hold a learner permit or driver licence?
• To retain your licence
• Summary of guidelines for seizures and driving
• Seizure-free periods for drivers of private vehicles
• Driving commercial vehicles
• Losing or surrendering your licence
• Retesting

Seizures and driving

Driving is a very important part of Australian life especially for those living in rural areas where one has to travel long distances to access services. Attaining your licence is also an important aspiration for young people.

Being diagnosed with epilepsy and the subsequent suspension of your driving licence for a time can throw your life into disarray, particularly if your job involves driving. But it may be for a relatively short period and once your seizures are controlled you will be able to drive again safely and legally.

During this time you may have to make certain lifestyle adjustments and an Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria epilepsy counsellor will be able to suggest ways to help you get through this difficult time.

National driving guidelines

National guidelines have been developed by epilepsy specialists and assist with the assessment of applications from people with epilepsy. These guidelines are intended to protect your safety and the safety of the community.

Visit www.austroads.com.au to view or download a copy of the latest guidelines.

Driving in Victoria

The guidelines below apply to driving in Victoria. For further information, including information regarding driving in other states contact: www.epilepsyaustralia.net

Driving in Victoria: VicRoads Medical Review – 03 9853 2307
Contact the local epilepsy organisation in your state
The Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria – National Helpline 1300 852 853

Can I drive?

For most people a diagnosis of epilepsy doesn't mean that you can never drive.

If you have epilepsy or seizures you can hold a learner permit or driver licence for private vehicles as long as your seizures are well controlled. If you believe that you qualify for a learner permit or driver licence you are encouraged to apply.

National medical guidelines have been developed by specialists to assist with the assessment of applications from people with epilepsy or seizures. These guidelines are intended to protect your safety and the safety of the community. Each application is considered individually. It assists when accurate medical information is provided.

Learner permits and driver licences

If you are obtaining your first learner permit or driver licence and you have epilepsy or seizures, you must notify VicRoads and provide a medical report before a learner permit or a driver licence can be issued. This report can be from your general practitioner or neurologist and must be no more than six months old.

If you do not notify VicRoads that you have epilepsy or seizures when you apply for a learner permit or driver licence, your learner permit or licence could be withdrawn.

Do you already hold a learner permit or driver licence?

If you hold a current learner permit or driver licence you are required by law to notify VicRoads if you have or develop any serious or chronic medical condition.

This includes epilepsy and seizures. If you drive with a serious or chronic medical condition without notifying VicRoads and you are involved in a crash, you could be sued under common law and/or charged with driving offences. In addition, your insurance company may not provide cover.

To retain your licence

You must provide a medical report to VicRoads. This report can be from your general practitioner or neurologist and must be no more than six months old. If you have a seizure, you must notify VicRoads. You will be required to have a thorough neurological examination and to provide a report from your neurologist.

Summary of guidelines for seizures and driving

Below is a summary of the national medical guidelines for seizures and driving. All Australian doctors have a copy of the guidelines. A copy is also kept at the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria. In every case individual circumstances apply and you may wish to discuss these with your doctor.

Seizure-free periods for drivers of private vehicles

The period that you must be free from seizures before driving depends on the type of seizure and the circumstances surrounding it and this varies from state-to-state.  In Victoria, the following apply:

Circumstances of seizure	Seizure-free period
Single seizure on withdrawal of medication	3 months following withdrawal*
Seizure due to sleep deprivation Generalised epilepsy syndrome Seizure following illness or other health problems	3 months
Isolated seizure(s) Recent diagnosis Partial epilepsy syndromes	6 months*
Any seizure while driving Temporal lobectomy	1 year
Nocturnal seizures	1 year seizure free during normal waking periods
Non-compliant patients Chronic epilepsy (not well-controlled)	2 years

* These periods may be reduced on the recommendation of a specialist in the management of epilepsy.
The frequency of periodic reviews may vary depending on your doctor’s medical report.

Driving commercial vehicles

Guidelines for commercial truck, taxi and bus licences are stricter than those for private licences. In many cases, if you have had a seizure, you may not be permitted to drive these vehicles.

If you wish to drive a commercial vehicle, you will need to consult your neurologist who can provide VicRoads with a medical report to assist in determining your suitability to drive. A conditional licence may be granted taking into account the opinion of a neurologist, the size and condition of the vehicle, the duties to be performed and the hours to be worked.

Losing or surrendering your licence

If VicRoads suspends or cancels your learner permit or driver licence on medical grounds, or if you voluntarily surrender your learner permit or driver licence, you will not regain it until you provide a satisfactory medical report that meets the guidelines.

Retesting

If you have not held a learner permit or driver licence within the last five years, you will have to sit a knowledge test and driving test to regain it.

Note: A motorcycle learner permit is issued for a period of 15 months and cannot be extended or renewed. If your motorcycle learner permit has expired by more than 15 months from the date of issue, a learner permit skills and written test will be required.

Download a pdf of VicRoads brochure Seizures and driving here. 

 

 

Related Articles