Information

for people

with seizure

disorders

✓ Quick Read Series

© 2003 Epilepsy Foundation of America, Inc.

This pamphlet is for general information only. Decisions about drivingshould be made only after discussion with your doctor and in accordancewith state driving rules.

Seizures are caused by suddenchanges in how your brain works.

Seizures can make you black outfor seconds or minutes. Or they maymake you shake, jerk, or not be able to move.

Seizures may be called falling out,fits or spells in some places.

Another name for seizures thathappen over and over, often for nospecial reason, is a seizure disorder or epilepsy.

People who have seizures orepilepsy often have questions abouthow it will affect their lives.

If you’re reading this pamphlet it’s probably

because you’ve been

having seizures.

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The Epilepsy Foundation getshundreds of questions every yearfrom people who want to knowwhether they can drive.

These are the ones we hear the most:

If I have epilepsy orseizures, can I still drive?

You may be able to drive if youare not having any seizures that makeyou black out or stop you fromcontrolling your car.

Every state has laws about howlong you must go with no seizuresbefore you can drive.

Some states will give you a licenseif you have not had any seizures forthree months.

Other states say you must go sixmonths without a seizure. Some sayyou have to have no seizures for ayear before you can get a license.

The Epilepsy Foundation has beenworking hard to make these rulesfairer for people with epilepsy. If youthink you’ve been unfairly treated, findout how to appeal.

Q.

A.

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How can I find out aboutthe law in my state?

Check with your localDepartment of Motor Vehicles (DMV)or Motor Vehicle Administration(MVA), where you would go to applyfor a license.

Do I have to tell them Ihave epilepsy when I go fora license?

Yes. There will be a list ofmedical conditions on the application.Like epilepsy, some will be conditionsthat can cause blackouts. Blackoutswhile driving cause accidents.

Epilepsy, seizures, or seizuredisorder will be on that list.

You must check any medicalcondition that you have that’s on that list.

Q.

A.

Q.

A.

• Always take epilepsy medicineevery day on time.

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Is there anything else Ihave to do?

Like anyone else, you’ll have topass a written test and a driving test.Your state may have other things thatyou need to do.

If I can say I haven’t hadany seizures and I pass theother tests, will I get alicense?

The state may say that yourdoctor has to send Motor Vehicles aletter about your seizures andtreatment.

The letter would tell them whatmedicine you are taking and how longit has been since your last seizure.

Your doctor may also have to saywhether she thinks you can drive safely.

Q.

A.

Q.

A.

• If you’ve been driving for severalhours and you’re tired, pull offthe road and rest.

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Suppose I get my licenseand then I have someseizures. Will they takemy license away?

In most states, you would have totell Motor Vehicles you’ve been havingseizures again. Your license might betaken away until you could show youwere not having seizures any more.

How long would that take?

You’d probably have to have noseizures for three months, or sixmonths, or 12 months, just as if youwere applying in your state for thefirst time. Or, your doctor might beasked about when you could driveagain.

I only have seizures when I sleep. I’ve never had oneduring the day. Can I get a license?

Some states will give you alicense if you have seizures only duringsleep. Your doctor would have towrite a letter saying that this was thekind of seizure you have.

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My doctor was changingmy medicine and I had afew seizures. Now I’m nothaving any. Do I still haveto give up my license?

You could appeal to MotorVehicles. Tell them what happened.Get a letter from your doctor aboutthe medicine change. You may be ableto keep your license in some states.

I do have blackouts, but Ialways know when I’mgoing to have one. I’dalways have time to pullover. Why can’t I drive?

You may be able to drive in somestates. Again, your doctor might haveto write a letter to Motor Vehiclesabout your seizures and whether thewarning you get is enough to drivesafely.

Q.

A.

• If your medicine is changed,ask your doctor about driving.Don’t drive until you know howthe change makes you feel.

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I had a seizure while driving.I hit a tree but was okay.No one took my licenseaway. I still have it. Doesthat mean I can still drive?

No. Having a license in yourhand doesn’t mean you can or shoulddrive. You should only drive if youhave not been having ANY seizuresfor however long your state says you have to be seizure free.

If you’ve had a seizure, stopdriving and give up your license untilyou can get it back legally.

What would happen if Idrove without a license?

You would be breaking the lawand you would be taking great risks.

If you had a seizure and causedan accident, you could be chargedwith a serious crime.

If you had a seizure and had anaccident that hurt or killed another

Q.

A.

• Don’t drive if you’re very tired orhave been going without sleep.

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person, you could go to prison.

If you had a seizure and had anaccident, your insurance would notcover the expenses.

Suppose I had a licenseand I had a seizure justbecause I’d run out ofmedicine. Would I have togive the license up?

You should tell Motor Vehiclesand tell them why you stopped takingthe medicine.

If you have epilepsy, and youdrive, your medicine is your lifeline.

It protects you and every otherdriver around you. You should never,ever, let yourself run out.

Q.

A.

• Don’t drink alcohol if you’regoing to drive. That’s goodadvice for everyone. If you have epilepsy, alcohol may makeyou have a seizure.

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Is it okay to drive if I’vemissed only a few tablets?

No. If you haven’t been takingyour medicine, don’t drive.

Don’t even drive to the drugstore to get more. Have your doctorcall it in. Get the drug store todeliver, or have a friend pick it up.

Wait a few days until you’vebeen taking your medicine regularlybefore you drive again.

If you don’t take your medicine,you are at high risk of having aseizure. Don’t let it happen behindthe wheel.

I take medicine and I havea VNS (vagus nervestimulation) implant tokeep seizures fromhappening. If I feel aseizure coming on, I use aspecial magnet to make itstop. Can I drive?

Your doctor can advise youabout driving with a VNS implant.If you’re still having seizures, youshouldn’t drive.

Q.

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Stopping a seizure with a VNSmagnet doesn’t mean that you won’thave a seizure later that you won’t beable to stop.

If you feel a seizure coming on atany time, stop. Even if the VNSmagnet works, don’t drive on. Gethome another way. Keep a cell phonein your car to call for help.

Will my doctor tell theDMV if I have a seizure?

If you live in California, Delaware,Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, orPennsylvania your doctor must tellMotor Vehicles if you have had a seizure.

If you live in other states, thedoctor would only report you if youwere driving even though you werestill having seizures and he’d told younot to drive.

Q.

A.

• Follow the licensing rules in your state.

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Your doctor would do thisbecause he would feel you were adanger to yourself and other peopleon the road.

I need to drive to get towork. I still have seizuressometimes. What can I do?

Can you carpool with otherworkers, and pay for part of the gas?

Can you take a bus or otherpublic transport? Can you movecloser to your job so you can getthere more easily?

Is there a bicycle lane you could use?

Is there a program to help peoplewith disabilities get to their jobs?

It is hard not to be able to drive,but if you are having seizures and youdrive, you could hurt yourself andothers. Your life would never be the same.

Q.

A.

• Report all seizures to your doctor.

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The Future

Many people with epilepsy drivesafely on our nation’s highways.

They take their medicinesregularly. They are not havingseizures. They follow the driving lawsin their states.

Some of these people had towait months, even years, before theycould drive safely. And they did.

If you can’t drive now becauseyou are still having seizures, check withyour doctor.

There may be new medicines orother treatments that would give youa better chance at control.

Don’t give up. Stay safe.

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To find out more about thedriving laws in your state, call theEpilepsy Foundation at 1-800-332-1000or visit www.epilepsyfoundation.org.

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1-800-332-1000

www.epilepsyfoundation.org

441DAY NE117318B

The Quick Read Series

is supported by an unrestricted

educational grant from