Driving (UK)

[Tuesando]

Can anybody tell me what the rules are for driving after suffering from encephalitis I’m the UK? Are there test to be can take to be allowed to drive again? And if so, who performs them (GP/DVLA/Neurologists?)

[Paula-38]

Well I had encephalitis in 1977 and I only applied in 2012 aftermy OCD improved 85% but less than a year later I started to relapse again I couldn't apply. But hopefully in the future I will do.

I know that if someone has seizures they have to be a year free (I'm 26 years free (but I haven't the foggiest about other things). I imagine if someone has severe fatigue that could affect their ability to drive but I'm not an expert on the latter though. Sorry I can't help much.

[Wygella]

I had Viral E in August 2018 I was lucky not to have residual seizures after the initial ones. I had to wait until my neurologist and my doctor said I could drive and then let DVLA know. They wanted to know it was over a year since my last seizure so I actually started to drive in November 2019. Honestly I didn’t feel well enough before then. I took a while to get my confidence back but I’m back to driving now. Hope this helps.

[Jensibel]

Hiya. I had Encephalitis back in 2005. And yes, I am a driver again.

I waited about 8 months since the illness to get back behind the wheel. My father in the passenger seat, he took me to car park for my first drive. I could remember exactly what to do... Phew! I knew exactly how to change gears, mirror, signal, manoeuvre etc. However, Dad tells me I couldn't remember the names of anything. I called gears "number stick" and pedals were "foot pushy things!".

These days, 15 years on, I am a confident road-savvy driver. I take the car on long and short journeys, and haven't had any accidents.

Mini note though, I never had a seizure follow E. So maybe that's the DVLA yes/no decider.

[Tuesando in reply to Jensibel]

Thank you. That is positive. To spoke my partner’s neurologist this morning. He said that my partner first needed to be seizure-free for 1 year and then we could reapply to the DVLA. The DVLA would consult with the neurologist.

[GedBus in reply to Jensibel]

I'm sorry to be a bearer of bad news , but doing that within the first year is breaking the law. And you and your father risk his licence and your own by breaching guidelines, unless on private land with landowners permission.

[Jensibel in reply to GedBus]

Not true in my case GedBus. I have never had a seizure so I did not break the law by driving 8 months after my E. Thanks for your concern but please remember that every case is different.

[GedBus]

Hi im a professional driver myself, and Currently going through same thing, I'm told initially 1 year free of any siezures. Yet these have to be confirmed by a neurologist or gp. Im led to believe in Scotland there is a team who assess driving abilities in the Edinburgh area who do nationwide referrals from GP. NHS driving assessment centres. They do a car driving assessment, which can then be sent to DVLA medical unit, who assess your case. Commercial licensing like bus coach hgv are done via enhanced medical assessments at your own expense once the initial car licence is restored.

[Tuesando in reply to GedBus]

Thanks Ged. Super helpful

[EncephInternational Partner]

Hi Tuesando, thanks for your question and thank you to every commenter for sharing your experiences and advice. It really is amazing to see what a wonderful, supportive community you guys have all built on here after only a handful of months on the platform! I think your questions have already been answered, but just on the off chance there were any further aspects you were unsure about, we have this factsheet on driving after encephalitis that is pretty comprehensive, and contains some really useful further signposting at the bottom: encephalitis.info/driving-a...

[NewWalkingBoots]

Hi. I’m new to this forum and just reading through the posts. I got my drivers license revoked unnecessary but got it back eventually. It is your legal responsibility to inform the DVLA of your encephalitis. I’m willing to share my story if you think it would help.

[Sam-b]

I've just seen this. I had HSE 17 years ago and have never driven. I applied for a provisional licence 10 years ago and it was turned down because of how I have to put extra thought into many things I do. The good thing that came out of it? I have a Freedom Pass so I don't pay for transport in London or buses anywhere in the country. It could be worse.

[Tuesando in reply to Sam-b]

Thank you Sam. My partner is really missing driving. Hopefully he will be able to soon again.

[Trisuitmaker]

We were told to return the licence to DVLA as not allowed to drive. We are now 3 yrs post HSV Encephalitus. Even today my wife could possibly drive a car..sadly she has no knowledge of where she is Only this week walking back home and prompted by the street name did she recite the address and a first time pointed out our house. So really it’s up to each individual

[Biker950]

Hi, I'm in Northern Ireland, had to wait 0ver a Year before re-applying as advised by my Neurologist, The Licencing department referred me to Driving Disability for them to carry out an assessment, This involved the assessor taking me out, Giving Verbal Instructions along the route, ( beaware they may "Say take next Left" which could be at a NO LEFT Turn Junction, ( my take is they are checking your awareness)

then I was asked to follow signs to city centre.

I just enjoyed being out driving,

They then sent Approval to DVLA, YES

[Tuesando in reply to Biker950]

Great news Biker. We will look forward to that. I don’t particularly like driving so I look forward to having my partner behind the wheel again.