Shortly after the automobile became available for widespread public use, licensing restrictions were introduced for people with seizures. Studies have suggested up to a two-fold increase in the risk of accidents in drivers with epilepsy compared to control populations, and there is some evidence that accidents that occur in drivers with epilepsy tend to be more serious, with greater injuries.
The granting of a driver's license is regulated by legislation, which has been enacted in each of the 13 provinces and territories. In all of these jurisdictions, the individual driver is required by law to report to the authorities any health problems, such as epilepsy, that could interfere with driving. In 5 provinces (Ontario, Manitoba, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island) and the two territories, physicians are also required by law to report to the department of motor vehicles, anyone with a medical condition that might impair driving ability. Note that these laws do not specifically refer to epilepsy or any other particular medical condition.
If you or your doctor report your epilepsy to the department of motor vehicles, they will ask your doctor for specific information about your condition, which will be reviewed by a medical board, which then makes a recommendation about granting your driver's license.
Guidelines have been established by various agencies to help in determining from a purely medical standpoint which people with epilepsy are at higher risk for having an accident if they drive. The most commonly used in Canada are the guidelines written by the Canadian Medical Association; all doctors should have a copy of The Physicians' Guide to Driver Examination, 5th ed., 1991, in their office. It is available by contacting the Canadian Medical Association at (613) 731-9331 or on the internet at: http://www.cma.ca
Source:a) Adapted from Epilepsy and Driving, by Dr. Richard McLachlan, London Health
Sciences Centre-University Campus. In: Legal Issues in Epilepsy. The Medicine Group,
Ltd. (Mississauga, Ont) 1998.
b) Newsletter of the CLAE, February 1997.
Canadian survey - epilepsy and driving
http://www.clae.org Some Recommendations About Driving
- Avoid driving when tired and do not drive for prolonged periods of time. Employment that requires long hours of driving is not recommended.
- Take care not to go for long periods without food or sleep.
- Take your medication regularly. If treatment is changed or stopped, be aware that this may interfere with your fitness to drive. At the time such changes are made, it is wise to stop altogether for a period of time. Discuss this with your physician.
- Minor seizures can be as important as major ones when it comes to driving. Any such episodes should be reported to your physician.
- Anyone with a history of epilepsy should be sure to avoid drinking alcohol before driving. Alcohol always impairs driving, and may cause a seizure, which might not occur otherwise. It is important for someone with epilepsy to drive under the best conditions.