epilepsy and driving epilepsy and driving epilepsy and driving is a personal and safety issue. a person with a seizure disorder that causes lapses in consciousness may be putting the public at risk from their operation of a motor vehicle. not only can a seizure itself cause an accident, but anticonvulsants often have side effects that include drowsiness. people with epilepsy are more likely to be involved in a traffic accident than people who do not have the condition, although reports range from minimally more likely up to seven times more likely. it is for this reason that most people diagnosed with epilepsy are prohibited or restricted by their local laws from operating vehicles. however, most places have exceptions built into their laws for those who can prove that they have stabilized their condition. individuals who may be exempt from such restrictions or may have fewer restrictions include those who had seizures as a result of a medical condition that has been cured, from a physician's experimental medication change that failed, as an isolated incident, whose seizures occur only while asleep, or who may be able to predict their seizures in order to ensure that they do not lose consciousness behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. the first seizure-related automobile crash occurred at the turn of the 19th century. since then, laws have been enacted all over the world regarding driving for people with epilepsy. there is an ongoing debate in bioethics over who should bear the burden of ensuring that a person with epilepsy does not drive a car or fly an aircraft. laws some countries prohibit people who have ever had a seizure from driving. in these countries, it is common for people with epilepsy to hide their condition from authorities in order not to be denied a driver's license. other places allow those who have had seizures to drive after a seizure-free period, which ranges from six months to a year. eu (european union) harmonisation of periods of freedom from seizure means the periods shown below for eu states is wrong - now 6 months for an isolated seizure, 12 months for a second or more seizures within 5 years, whether or not antiepileptic drugs are taken. for drivers of heavy lorries and buses the seizure-free period is five years without drugs. epilepsy driving laws by country 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. no australia patients must be seizure-free for 3–6 months for recently diagnosed seizures, and for two years for chronic epilepsy. exact laws vary by state or territory. 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. 2–3 years belgium seizure-free period required depends on the type of seizure. 1–2 years bermuda 1 year brazil 1 year bulgaria those who have ever had a seizure are prohibited from driving. 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. china those who have ever had a seizure are prohibited from driving. croatia 2 years cyprus 1 year czech republic 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. 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 1–5 years france required seizure-free period is 2 years, but this may be reduced at the advice of a physician. 2 years germany in heavy cases the period of time is 2 years. patients with seizures that do not involve motor activity are not disqualified from driving. no 1 year ghana those who have ever had a seizure are prohibited from driving. greece 2 years iceland 2 years india those who have ever had a seizure are prohibited from driving. this law was passed in 1939. iran in general, those who have ever had a seizure are prohibited from driving and shall not be licensed to drive. this law was passed in 2005. 1 year 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. 1 year israel public vehicle (bus): never; public vehicle (taxi): 10 years seizure-free on medications or 5 years seizure-free unmedicated; private vehicle: 1 year seizure-free or 3 years of sleep-seizures only yes 1 year italy each case is assessed by the regional board. 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. this changed in 2002, and japan now allows those who have been seizure-free for 2 years to drive. patients must be officially "cured". physicians are required to report patients who drive. 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 12 months for drivers of private light motor vehicles and motorbikes, although may be reduced to 6 months by nz transport agency on advice from a physician. drivers driving class 1 vehicles (cars and light trucks) for work must be seizure-free for 5 years if not using medication. people with nocturnal epilepsy may drive if they have had no seizures while awake in the last 12 months. people with epilepsy cannot hold a heavy vehicle licence (classes 2, 3, 4, 5), or commercial passenger (p), vehicle recovery (v), driving instructor (i) or testing officer (o) endorsements. yes 1 year norway 2-year period may only be reduced in exceptional cases. yes 2 years pakistan those who have ever had a seizure are prohibited from driving. poland yes 2 years portugal 2 years romania 5 years rwanda those who have ever had a seizure are prohibited from driving. saudi arabia 1 year senegal 1 year singapore those who have ever had a seizure are prohibited from driving. slovenia 2 years south africa 2 years spain 1 year sweden must be seizure-free for five years before being allowed to drive professionally. yes 1 years switzerland 1 year taiwan those who have ever had a seizure are prohibited from driving. turkey those who have ever had a seizure are prohibited from driving. many patients do in violation of this law. united kingdom it is the responsibility of the patients to inform the driver and vehicle licensing agency (dvla) if they have epilepsy. the dvla rules are quite complex, but in summary, 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. united states in the u.s., people with epilepsy can drive if their seizures are controlled with medication or other treatment and they meet the licensing requirements in their state. how long they have to be free of seizures varies in different states, but it is most likely to be between six months to a year. in 44 of the 50 states, the burden is placed on patients to report their condition to appropriate licensing authorities so that their privileges can be revoked where appropriate. six states place the burden of reporting on the patient's physician. after reporting is carried out, it is usually the driver's licensing agency that decides to revoke or restrict a driver's license. restrictions on operating a commercial vehicle are often stricter than those for a private automobile. federal law in the united states prohibits people with epilepsy from operating a commercial vehicle across state lines, even if seizures are controlled. studies have shown that in states where drivers are required to report their own condition, about 1/3 of licensed drivers comply with this law. the most recent trend adopted by many states allows those who have been seizure-free for 90 days to drive. this leniency has been passed with the hope that drivers will be more willing to report their health conditions. laws by state state law physician required to report seizure-free period alabama decided by medical advisory board. periodic updates from physician may be required. no 6 months alaska semi-annual neurological examination required no 6 months arizona driving is permitted if seizure is the result of a medication change, is believed by physician to be an isolated incident, is predictable to patient by an aura, or occurs during sleep only. no 3 months arkansas a one-year seizure-free period is required, and no exceptions are granted. no 1 year california action taken against those who experience lapses of consciousness or confusion. after 3 months, reinstated under probation, and after 6 months, if no incidents occur, probation is lifted yes 3-6 months colorado anyone with a medical condition causing a lapse of consciousness must submit a physician statement certifying one's ability to drive no no fixed amount of time connecticut all applicants for driver's licenses or renewals are required to state any conditions they may have. if any involve a lapse of consciousness, physician statement is required. no 3-6 months delaware physicians are required to report seizure disorders involving lapses of consciousness to dmv. license restrictions are accordingly placed. reviews are made annually thereafter. yes no fixed amount of time district of columbia applicants are required to submit a physician certificate stating they have been seizure free for at least one year for the first 5 years of being seizure-free. following the 5-year period, applicants are required to sign an affidavit that they have been seizure-free. driving is permitted within a year of a seizure if seizures are nocturnal, or if they are an isolated incident. no 12 months florida drivers who are seizure-free for 6 months may be licensed if a physician feels it is safe. those who are seizure-free for 2 years or longer do not need a physician certificate. no 6 months georgia those who are seizure-free for 6 months may be licensed. those with nocturnal epilepsy are offered licenses restricted to daylight hours, even if they are actively having seizures. no 6 months hawaii those who are seizure-free for 6 months are offered licenses. exceptions are considered on a case-by-case basis. no 6 months idaho licenses are denied to those who, at the discretion of a physician, cannot safely operate a motor vehicle due to a medical condition causing lapses in consciousness, and can be reinstated when, at the physician's discretion, the lapses in consciousness do not impede the patient's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. no no fixed amount of time illinois all applicants are asked to answer a series of questions pertaining to their health. if any have a "yes" answer, a physician must certify that it is safe for the applicant to drive. the applicant must follow the physician's instructions from then on. no no fixed amount of time indiana anyone whose physician certifies that s/he is seizure-free while medicated is permitted to obtain a license. no no fixed amount of time iowa must remain seizure-free for 6 months, and then submit an evaluation from a physician every 6 months thereafter. those whose seizures occur only at night, or were only as a result of