Driving Regulations Task Force

Introduction

“There are few aspects of having epilepsy in adult life that cause greater distress than the necessary legal restrictions on driving”.

Hopkins, A. Appleton, R 1996
“Epilepsy The Facts”

Across Europe, persons with epilepsy can experience widely different regulations regarding driving. Many countries operate a blanket ban on people with epilepsy preventing them from driving, while other countries have regulations that may differ significantly from neighbouring countries. Therefore the need for Europe-wide regulations is very evident.

Driving Regulations Across Europe

At present the following European countries, ranked according to their GDP, have driving regulations for epilepsy:

Interestingly the countries who do not have driving regulations tend to have lower GDPs.

There are many reasons why persons with epilepsy are excluded from or unfairly limited in driving privileges

• Fear / Stigma / Cultural / Religious;
• Adherence / Compliance problems;
• Economic Reasons;
• Doctor reporting issues with Authorities;
• Lack of representation for persons with epilepsy.

Therefore it is very significant that the 20 countries with regulations all have IBE member organisations run by lay people. None of the 11 countries without regulations have this sort of an IBE organisation.

Second Working Group on Epilepsy and Driving of the European Union

The first EU recommendations with regard to epilepsy and driving were published in 1996. A Second Working Group on Epilepsy and Driving of the European Union, chaired by Dr. Eric Schmedding was brought together in 2004 and this task force contained many of the members of the original 1996 working group. This working group has also published recommendations for persons with epilepsy and driving.

Recommendations for Group 1 Licence Holders (Private Motor Cars)

Recommendations for Group 2 Licence Holders (Heavy Goods Vehicles, Buses)

First unprovoked seizure
The applicant who has had a first unprovoked epileptic seizure can be declared able to drive once 5 years freedom of further seizures has been achieved without the aid of anti-epileptic drugs, if there has been an appropriate neurological assessment National authorities may allow drivers with recognised good prognostic indicators to drive sooner.

Epilepsy
10 years freedom of further seizures has been achieved without the aid of anti-epileptic drugs. National authorities may allow drivers with recognised good prognostic indicators to drive sooner.

Comparison of Country Regulations and EU Recommendations

A survey of the countries with driving regulations revealed inconsistencies between countries and also highlighted variations from the EU recommendations.

Group 1
Epilepsy – Seizure Free Period in Months

Group 1
Sleep Seizures Only – Period in Months

No Rule

Group 1
First Seizure (unprovoked) – Seizure Free Period in Months

12

Group 1
Seizure Without Loss of Consciousness – Seizure Free Period in Months

No Rule

Group 2
Epilepsy – Seizure Free Period in Years

1