The law regarding epilepsy and driving is pretty clear. In all but a very few limited cases (where a licence has been issued on the express understanding that the sufferer has "asleep seizures" only) if an epileptic attack occurs, the licence holder must stop driving and inform the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) or appropriate driving agency.
UK motoring laws currently apply to any type of epileptic seizure – absence, partial, myoclonic and tonic-clonic seizures – and just one seizure is enough, regardless of the severity or circumstances, to render a driver's licence and car insurance null and void. So, drivers are urged to contact the DVLA as soon as possible after an attack.
Drivers with epilepsy must contact the DVLA directly and can do so using forms available from the DirectGov website. Driving after having suffered a seizure is likely to be deemed illegal and could lead to prosecution.
If an epilepsy sufferer has not applied for a licence because of previous attacks or where a sufferer has voluntarily surrendered their licence after experiencing seizures, a UK driving licence (category A, B, B+E, F, G, H, K, L or P) can be issued under the following circumstances:
* The one-year period free of seizures applies from date of most recent attack.
The DVLA can issue a fixed-period driver's licence, usually for one, two or three years. When a driver has been seizure free for a total of five years, and a doctor supports the application, there's a good chance that a long-term licence (ten years) will be issued.
Sufferers of epilepsy who come back to driving once they have the condition drug-controlled (epilepsy rarely just 'goes away') will need to tell car insurance providers they are driving on a restricted licence, otherwise, in the event of a claim, they may find their insurance is invalidated.
For more information on epilepsy and driving please visit the Epilepsy Action website.
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