Learning to drive is a huge milestone, and if you have epilepsy, it’s normal to wonder how it will affect your ability to get your licence. The good news is that many young people with epilepsy do drive – there are a few extra rules to keep everyone safe.
Driving with epilepsy usually means meeting certain health criteria, like having a period of seizure control, taking your medications as prescribed, and seeing your doctor regularly. It can feel frustrating at times, especially if you’re waiting to be eligible, but with the right support and planning, driving may still be part of your future.
Find out more:
Click on the play button to hear Samantha’s experience of not driving.
To hear Meg talk about medications and wanting to drive click on the video.
Driving and medications
Will I be able to get my driver’s licence?
- Being seizure free – seizures are controlled by medication for a specified period of time.
- Speak to your doctor about how long you will have to be seizure free for.
- Only having seizures during sleep – in most circumstances, you are allowed to get your licence if your seizures are only during sleep. This needs to be confirmed by your doctor.
- There may be other conditions where you can get your licence
When you have your licence, it is also important that you:
- Continue to take anti-seizure medication regularly as prescribed
- Ensure you get enough sleep and not drive if sleep-deprived
- May need to abstain from alcohol and other drugs (seizures may be caused by using alcohol, drugs or non-prescription drugs).
You need to make a real commitment to take your medication every day and on time so you don’t risk having a seizure on the road.
If you are going to wean off a medication or change medications, you must not drive – there are restrictions on driving for a specified period as this is a high risk time for having a seizure. You need to confirm with your specialist how long you must refrain from driving if your medication regime is changing.
This is a document about medical fitness to drive in Australia. There is a section on seizures and epilepsy.
Who tells the road transport authorities?
If you are diagnosed with epilepsy or have a seizure, it is your responsibility to notify the appropriate road transport authority in your state or territory. In South Australia and Northern Territory doctors have mandatory reporting obligations.
Your doctor may notify the authorities if he/she suspects you are driving against advice or not taking your medication as prescribed.
I’ve had a couple of seizures but I don’t want to tell my doctor because I’m afraid I’ll lose my licence.
If I lose my licence because of seizures, can I ever get it back?
Who makes the rules about whether or not you are well enough to drive?
What if I don’t tell the authorities?
- Taking your medications as prescribed and their side effects for you. If your seizures are controlled, you should be able to drive if you can show that you take medications regularly.
- It is important to have regular reviews by a neurologist to keep the ability to drive and proactively make medication changes if necessary.
- Honest and open communication with the neurologist is important. There are many people that don’t tell their neurologist everything in fear of losing or not getting their licence. This ultimately can lead to poor seizure management or even more dire circumstances if a seizure occurs whilst driving.
- Any physical, intellectual, behavioural and maturity issues may also be taken into account.
It’s important to remember though that driving is a privilege not a right, and one which can be taken away if the road rules are broken.
As you are approaching the age where you want to get your licence, discuss it with your neurologist to give you the best opportunity to plan ahead. Any changes to medication or management should be done well before attempting to get a driver’s licence.
